A lively week of online activities and curriculum for students about the Sun including games and lesson plans for the whole week. In addition, there's a message board where your classroom can submit a question to solar scientists.
Every fall and spring since 2000, Solar Week provides a weeklong series of Web-based educational classroom activities and games geared for upper elementary, middle and high school students with a focus on the Sun-Earth connection. Students learn about solar eclipses, sunspots, and solar storms through a series of activities, games, and lessons.
Solar Week is ideal for students studying the solar system, the stars, astronomy in general. It's also for kids wondering what it's like being a scientist, and possible career choices. Participation makes for a fun computer lab activity as well. The website is especially designed to spark the interest of pre- and early-teen students with activities and interaction with leading scientists at the forefront of Sun-Earth research. Solar Week always devotes a day -- and on-line discussion time -- to each year's Sun-Earth Day theme. This year (spring 2008) it's Solar Energy, and we will feature Special Guests Scientists who can answer your questions about Solar Energy, as well as links to web activities.
Note: Teachers, please read the FAQs before your class submits a question to the bulletin board. (http://www.solarweek.org/CS/p/873/1458.aspx#1458). There you will find information and answers on How To Ask A Good Question, How Come My Question Didn't Get Answered, Why Does It Take Awhile For A Scientist to Answer My Question and other useful assistance.
The August 4, 1972 solar flare was so powerful that, by some estimates, a spacesuited astronaut would have received a lethal does of radiation.