The+sky

Use the free software Stellarium to show your students what happens in the sky over a day, month, or year from different places on Earth. If you have a budget, consider purchasing a digital planetarium system such as one by Digitalis!

A great research article breaking down the learning progression around understanding celestial motions. The authors studied elementary and middle school student understandings and used a 'homemade' classroom planetarium to help students progress! I wrote out the progressions and would be interested to hear what strategies you use in your classes (or even what your middle school teachers use) to help students move along in these progressions. 