Since you can't go to the comet, bring the comet to you. Young scientists build models of comets using everyday materials and then participate in a simulation of the interaction between the comet and other bodies in the solar system....

Students make a comet out of corn syrup, ammonia, dirt, ice cream sticks, and more. In this comet lesson plan, students view how these ingredients turn from a solid to a gas.

Finish or launch your unit on the solar system with a jigsaw project covering major celestial concepts such as the Milky Way Galaxy, asteroids, meteors, comets, Earth's moon, and, of course, all the planets. Learners start by...

How do scientists know the difference between a meteorite from space and a regular rock from the earth? Scholars read a passage and answer comprehension questions about the creation of the solar system. They extrapolate the main ideas to...

The moon is famous for its craters, but they haven't always been there. Young learners experiment with materials to simulate the creation of moon craters. Pupils are able to see patterns in their materials that are similar to the...

Solar art inspires! Scholars study planetary geology with an artistic analysis. Pupils view a PowerPoint presentation on the solar system and space exploration and then try their hand at planetary image analysis using art techniques. 

Break down light into spectra. Scholars learn how atoms emit and absorb photons and come to understand how this process allows scientists to identify different atoms based on either absorption lines or emission lines. Learners then...

Preparing for an assessment? Here's an activity that will ensure that all class members have the background knowledge they need to demonstrate their skills on a performance task related to the solar system and the tools astronomers use...

Hands-on activity allows children to learn about comets by creating their own models using art supplies.

Use marbles to discover how comets and asteroids make impact craters. This hands-on experiment is easy to do and gives you many variations to try. Included are links to additional information.

Instructions for making a simulated comet nucleus from simple materials.

This site provides a detailed discussion of the comet C/1861 J1 (the great comet of 1861). Content includes discovery and observational information, as well as images.

If you're interested in making a comet model from common household items, check out these instructions.

Fact piece about Halley's Comet.

This activity poses the question: What would happen if a meteor or comet impacted Earth? Students simulate an impact in a container of sand using various-sized rocks, all while measuring, recording and graphing results and conclusions....

NASA-sponsored coverage and research on a range of topics related to space exploration -- flying weather stations, comets, first steps on the Moon, and other space-related topics -- are presented in age-appropriate activities, lesson...

This site provides a detailed overview of the comet C/1956 R1 (Arend-Roland). Content includes discovery information, orbit, images, and historical highlights.

Scientists continue to learn from their observations long after the largest collision in history was recorded. Was Comet SL-9 actually an asteroid? What were the dark impact clouds made of? What were the effects on Jupiter's magnetic field?

University of Michigan and Windows to the Universe offers information showing that with the help of the Galileo spacecraft, scientists figured out that the rings are made from dust that was kicked off of the small moons surrounding...

How do astronomers collect stardust? They design and build satellites that are launched into space to collect particles on specially designed panels. Satellites can be sent to orbit around an object of interest: a planet, moon, or comet....

Students groups act as aerospace engineering teams competing to create linear equations to guide space shuttles safely through obstacles generated by a modeling game in level-based rounds. Each round provides a different configuration of...

Math and literature meet in this interactive game exploring ordinal numbers. Based on the cat tale, Comet's Nine Lives by Jan Brett, this activity is sure to engage students in developing number order skills. Learners receive immediate...

This site has links to all the planets, providing an overview of the solar system. It also contains information about asteroids, meteors, comets and other features of our solar system.

[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about asteroids. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.