Asteroids Meteors and Comets
Learning Sequence
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Introduction With Gavin
In this short course, students will research and explore the topic of small bodies in the solar system, focusing on asteroids, comets, and meteors. They will learn about the differences between these objects and their impact on the solar system, particularly the potential dangers they pose to Earth.
Additionally, students will investigate the various names given to meteors based on their position and state, and examine the composition of meteorites to understand what they reveal about the universe. The course emphasizes research skills, encouraging students to conduct independent research, analyze information, and present their findings effectively.
In this short course, we’re going to explore asteroids, comets, and meteors and discover what makes them different from each other.
Did you know that these objects can actually have an impact on our solar system? We’ll talk about how they affect things and even learn about the potential dangers they pose to our very own Earth. It’s important to understand what’s out there in space!
First, we will dive into the world of meteors. We’ll find out that meteors have different names depending on where they are. We’ll explore what makes a meteor different from a meteorite and a meteoroid. It might sound tricky, but we’ll make sure to illustrate it so you can understand it better.
In the last part of our adventure, we’ll uncover the amazing secrets hidden inside meteorites. We’ll learn what they’re made of and how they can tell us fascinating things about the universe that’s far, far away. It’s like discovering a cosmic treasure!
So, get ready for a course filled with discovery! We’ll have fun exploring small bodies in our solar system, understanding their differences, and uncovering the mysteries of meteorites. Let’s embark on this awesome journey together!
Key Quote - Gene Cernan
Students are asked to critically analyse and interpret this quote to gain a deeper understanding of the message conveyed by the astronaut.
Students may also choose to conduct independent research on the astronaut or the particular space mission they were a part of, and record their findings in a notebook. To further enhance their engagement with the quote, students are encouraged to create an artistic representation, such as a drawing or visual art piece, that captures the essence of the message being conveyed.
Read the following quote and try to figure out what the astronaut meant by saying it.
You can do some research to learn more about the astronaut or the space mission they were a part of, and write down your findings in your notebook. To make things even more fun, you can also create a drawing or artwork that shows what you think the quote is all about. This will help you engage with the quote and understand it better.
Course Keywords
Introduce the spelling word list and choose from this list of tasks that can be repeated and expanded upon if necessary.
Copy the words into a spelling list/Vocabulary book for later reference.
Put each of the new words into a sentence and underline the new vocabulary in red pencil
Place the words in alphabetical order in a list.
Use a dictionary to define each of the words and place them into a vocabulary book.
Try to represent each of the words using a picture or a symbol and play the guessing game. (which image is matched to which word)
Write a paragraph containing all of the new vocabulary.
Make a vocabulary wall containing all of the new words.
Use a thesaurus to find synonyms for the words and create a synonym list.
These words will help you during this short course. You may already know some of these words however practice makes perfect!
First, read the words and then try to define them as simply as possible.
An example has been completed for you. You can write these into your books, and draw a picture to match or simply complete the task card.
Comprehension Activity - Asteroids, Comets, Meteors
Here’s a reading comprehension activity. This can be done independently or tackled as a guided reading activity with your students.
Once the children have read the relevant information, they can then work through the comprehension questions until they become too hard.
The four levels of questions allow for your students to push themselves until they become too difficult. They may wish to use classroom resources to solve the questions they find too hard or they can be used as extension activities to be completed in free time or at home.
Read the information opposite on the introduction to the moon and use the information gained from the video above and attempt to answer as many of the comprehension questions as possible.
You may talk to the people in the classroom and use any resources available in the classroom to get the answers. You may even wish to continue your research at home on the questions that you could not solve.
We have made the questions range in difficulty, see how far you can get! Remember to answer the questions in full sentences and make notes of any diagrams or amazing facts that may help you remember the information later.
Asteroid, Meteor, Comet or Meteoroid?
This session will involve the children researching the differences between celestial objects that orbit our planet and enter its atmosphere.
Ask your class to read the text carefully and use the keyword list to figure out the missing words. Once they complete the task, we request them to draw an image in the provided circle. This task is all about comprehension and teamwork.
Now that you understand the distinct differences between the types of objects that orbit our planet and sometimes enter the atmosphere, we want you to take a look at the task card opposite and work together in a group to complete the missing words in each of the 5 paragraphs.
Once you are sure that you have figured out the correct meaning, try to draw an image of each celestial object in the circle next to it.
What’s Inside an Asteroid? - Chemical Research
In this lesson, students will explore asteroids and their chemical composition. They’ll learn about the elements present in asteroids and their periodic symbols. By using a task card, they’ll discover the practical applications of these elements on Earth. Students will also be encouraged to research additional rare elements found in asteroids. To make connections, they can examine if any of these elements are present in classroom materials. The lesson emphasizes understanding chemical elements, their periodic symbols, and their significance in both celestial bodies and our daily lives.
Asteroids zoom through space at astonishing speeds and hold elements that we utilize on Earth in our daily lives. The task card will assist you in understanding some of these elements and their applications on our planet. Additionally, we encourage you to research the chemical symbols associated with these rare materials. For instance, oxygen is represented by the symbol O, and carbon dioxide, the gas we exhale, is represented by CO2.
Once you have explored the materials on the task card, you might want to investigate other rare elements found in asteroids and determine if any of them are present in the materials found in your classroom.
Bringing Mathematics To Life - Greater or Smaller?
In this lesson, students will engage in a research-based activity focused on figures and comparisons in the context of the solar system.
They will explore facts from the task card, spanning from Earth’s features to the vastness of space, and conduct research to determine which values are greater or smaller.
Working collaboratively, students will carefully analyze the facts, ensuring accuracy in their comparisons. This lesson emphasizes critical thinking, research skills, and the understanding of comparative figures within the captivating realm of the solar system.
Read the facts from the task card opposite and use research to determine the comparative values. The facts encompass various aspects of the solar system, ranging from features on Earth to the outer reaches of space.
Read the facts together with your friends and decide which symbol (>) or (<) will correctly complete each sentence. Exercise caution as some facts may initially appear easy, but upon careful research, you will realize they are more challenging than they seem.
Remember that the symbols represent greater than and smaller than, as exemplified below:
5 > 3 (five is greater than three.)
6 < 12 (six is smaller than twelve)
Short Story Design: The Last Dinosaur
In this lesson, we will emphasize the importance of creativity. Students will be tasked with the exciting challenge of bringing a dinosaur back to life through their imagination. They will write and illustrate a picture book called “The Last Dinosaur,” which tells the story of the final surviving dinosaur after the asteroid impact.
By encouraging creative thinking and providing an outlet for artistic expression, this lesson aims to inspire students and foster their imaginative abilities.
65 million years ago, a colossal asteroid crashed into Earth, leading to the extinction of dinosaurs. This week, we challenge you to ignite their imagination and creative spirit by bringing one of those dinosaurs back to life.
Your task is to write a book of hope. A book that chronicles the incredible journey of the last standing dinosaur after the devastating asteroid impact.
Use the provided template and carefully follow the instructions on the following pages to create your own picture book titled ‘The Last Dinosaur.’ Feel free to change the images, the front cover, or even the title if you wish. Once your book is complete, we want you to share it with other children in your school and read it aloud, spreading the powerful message of hope!
We all have dreamed of encountering a real dinosaur, and now it’s your chance to make that dream a reality using your creative abilities.
Remember that your story will need an introduction, complication and resolution. Good luck on this exciting adventure!
Let’s Create with Jordan - Meteors, Meteoroids and Meteorites
Activity: Stages of a Meteor Diagram
Core Curriculum Connection: Science/Language Arts
Elemental Foci: Color, Space, Shape
Principle Foci: Unity, Contrast, Movement
Goal: Students will be able to create a progressive stage diagram with three different images defining three different stages in the life of a meteor.
Criteria:
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Divide your page up into three separate panels.
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In the first panel, show a meteoroid floating in space. Use dull colors and grays.
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In the second panel, show the meteor, passing through our atmosphere, burning with warm colors and a tail.
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For the third panel, show a meteorite after impact, glowing on the ground with an impact crater.
Relevance: Through this project, students will understand how progressive sequential images in a specific order can depict the passage of time and the changes to objects they understand.
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Here’s an art activity related to what we’ve been learning about in class. It’s an opportunity for you to enhance your artistic abilities and learn more about the amazing things that exist in the Antarctic region.
Jordan will be joining us to brainstorm creative ways to showcase what we’ve learned about Antarctica while also doing some good for the world.
Take a look at the video on the other side and then do your best to follow Jordan’s guidance to make the world a better place with your creative skills.
To fully understand what we will be creating, you may wish to watch the full video below before starting.
Let’s get creative!
Let's Create With Jordan - Full Video
Watch the video with your class and support them as they use the skills demonstrated in the video in their own work tasks.
Watch Jordan’s full video here before starting your creative art project and remember that your work does not need to match Jordan’s exactly. Use it as a guide and try to make your work unique and be as creative as you like!