Curated OER
Asteroids, Meteors, and Comets
Although a bit confusing, this is an interesting exercise which will lead to greater understanding of the differences between asteroids, meteors, and comets. Learners must find the correct path that takes them through a series of...
Curated OER
The Difference Between Comets, Meteors And Asteroids
Students use Venn diagrams to highlight the similarities and differences between comets, meteors, and asteroids.
Starry Night Education
Comets and Meteors
Comets are also known as dirty snowballs or icy mud balls. With your super scientists, create a model comet nucleus to discover how they are made and take part in a scientific discussion to learn how it behaves.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Calculating Iridium Fallout from an Asteroid Impact
Should we be afraid of a large asteroid impact on Earth today? Young scientists estimate the size and composition of an asteroid similar to the one that caused the K-T mass extinction. They apply algebraic formulas to answer questions...
Curated OER
Exploring Meteorite Mysteries: Building Blocks of Planets
Students simulate the formation of chondrites and asteroids. In this astronomy activity, students demonstrate accretion using balloons and static electricity. They compare and contrast their models to the actual process of chondrites and...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Distribution of Elements in Earth’s Crust
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...
Curated OER
Comets And Meteor Showers
Students fill in a diagram of a comet. They listen to a short lecture, view flash animation descriptions of comets and meteors and then use the presented information to complete a worksheet.
Curated OER
Asteroid, Comet, or Meteor?
In this asteroid, comet and meteor worksheet, students complete a chart by determining which of 8 given characteristics belong to asteroids, comets or meteors.
Curated OER
Our Solar System and Seasons
Sixth graders investigate the relative diameters of planets and distances between them and the cause for seasons on Earth using the 5-E Learning Model. They appreciate the size and distances involved with objects in the real universe....
Curated OER
Subject-Verb Agreement: Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs meet the final frontier in this subject-verb agreement worksheet! There are 12 sentences here missing an irregular verb which must agree with the subject or subjects. All sentences relate to space and even give some...
Curated OER
Astronomy Jeopardy
There are 5-point level questions available for each of the categories in this Jeopardy game. The categories are the main topics within astronomy; stars, galaxies, the sun, planets, meteors etc. The game is logically set up and...
Curated OER
Comet Myths, Facts, and Legends
Here is an interactive book lesson plan through which learners explore the facts and stories about comets. The plan is comprehensive, providing background information, standards met, vocabulary, assessment ideas, and more. Though the...
Curated OER
Big Extinction
Students discuss evidence of a pre-dinosaur era meteoric collision, and its impact on living creatures. They build buckyball molecule models out of marshmallows, toothpicks, and soccer balls.
Curated OER
Asteroids
Students examine the different types of asteroids and how they enter the atmosphere. In this space lesson plan students use mashed potatoes to create an asteroid they can eat.
Curated OER
Meteors
Students identify the different types of meteorite using an interactive website. In this earth science lesson, students simulate how meteors crash on a surface. They relate meteor size to crater size.
Curated OER
The Story of the Solar System
There is more to the solar system than the typical study of the sun and planets. Launch a study of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets by watching the video The Story of the Solar System, available for purchase through this...
Curated OER
Asteroid, Comet, or Meteor?
For this asteroid, comet, and meteor graphic organizer worksheet, learners compare and contrast asteroids, comets, and meteors as they mark the characteristics of each.
Mrs. Sol's Class
Solar System Project
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...
University of Colorado
Clay Planets
Why do scientists use models? In the first installment of 22, groups create scale models of our solar system. They then share and discuss their models.
Curated OER
Objects in the Solar System
Eighth graders define a planet by the orbit around the sun, have a large enough gravitational force to hold a sphere shape and needs to clear the neighboorhood of it own orbital zone. They describe comets, meteoroids, meteor, meteorites...
Virginia Department of Education
Solar System Model
How many planets can you name? Did you get all 13 in our solar system, including the dwarf planets, or were you surprised when you read there are 13 planets? The lesson helps scholars understand the scale of the universe including the...
Virginia Department of Education
Planet Line-Ups
Should Pluto be considered a planet or a dwarf planet? Scholars research planets in our solar system to understand their similarities and differences. It also includes memory activities related to the order of the planets.
Curated OER
Other Objects in the Solar System
In this solar system worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle given 11 clues about objects in the sky such as asteroids, meteoroids, comets and planets.
Research Parent
Solar System Cards
Find all things solar system in a set of reference cards. Even Pluto makes an appearance! Each of the 24 cards has a picture and accompanying informational text that gives brief background about the object.