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Lesson Plan
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University of Colorado

Are All Asteroids' Surfaces the Same Age?

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
There are more than 600,000 asteroids in our solar system. Pupils analyze images of two asteroids in order to determine if they are the same age. They count craters for each asteroid and compare numbers. 
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Asteroids, Meteors, and Comets

For Students 4th
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...
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Activity
Las Cumbres Observatory

Plotting an Asteroid Light Curve

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Data can tell us a lot about celestial objects that are just too far away to study otherwise. Learners examine data on the brightness of an asteroid to predict its rotation rate. Graphing the data reveals a periodic pattern that allows...
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Lesson Plan
University of Colorado

Are All Asteroids' Surfaces the Same Age?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Did you know scientists can tell the age of an asteroid by looking closely at its craters? This final lesson of a six-part series focuses on two asteroids, Gaspra and Ida, in order to demonstrate the concept of dating asteroids. Scholars...
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Activity
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Teach Engineering

Incoming Asteroid! What's the Problem?

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Oh, no! An asteroid is on a collision course with Earth!. Class members must rise to the challenge of designing a shelter that will protect people from the impact and permit them to live in this shelter for one year. In this first lesson...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Asteroids!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore how to visually identify asteroids in SDSS images. They are able to explain that stars are so far away that they do not appear to move, even over the course of a human lifespan. Students identify the location of most...
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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Calculating Iridium Fallout from an Asteroid Impact

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
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...
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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Determining the Size and Energy of the K-T Asteroid

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Two different groups of scientists published scientific papers in 1980 offering proof of a large asteroid hitting Earth between the Cretaceous and Tertiary layers of ground. Scholars use a worksheet to analyze the same type of data as...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Galaxy Adventure

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Working in groups, learners create a mnemonic device, give an oral presentation, and create a pictorial representation of the correct sequence of the planets and asteroid belt from the sun. An assessment rubric is included in the lesson.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Hubble Spies Colliding Asteroids!

For Students 9th - 11th
In this colliding asteroids worksheet, learners are given the equation to determine the collision time for asteroids. Students use this equation to solve 4 problems including finding the area of a cross-section through the body of an...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

From Dust Balls to Asteroids

For Students 9th - 12th
In this asteroids worksheet, students solve six problems where they find the equation for the mass of asteroids, they find the equation for the growth of asteroids, and they integrate their answers.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Spotting an Approaching Asteroid or Comet

For Students 9th - 12th
In this asteroid and comet activity, students read about the formula used to determine the brightness of asteroid. They apply this formula to solve 2 problems about asteroids and their brightness.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

From Asteroids to Planets

For Students 9th - 12th
In this asteroids and planets worksheet, students read about the formation of planets from asteroids. Students solve 6 mathematical problems including finding the rate of growth of a planet, determining the mass of a planet at a given...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teacher Notes - "Comets And Asteroids - What They Are, Where They Are, They and Us"

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine the make-up of comets and asteroids. In this comets and asteroids lesson, students examine pictures of comets in asteroids that are included in a teacher presented PowerPoint. They complete an associated worksheet.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Asteroids Between Mars and the Sun

For Students 8th - 10th
In this asteroids of the solar system activity, students observe a diagram showing all the minor planets found in the orbit of Mars. Students answer 4 questions about the minor planets inside the orbit of other planets, they find the...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Asteroid, Comet, or Meteor?

For Students 6th - 8th
In this asteroid, comet and meteor worksheet, students complete a chart by determining which of 8 given characteristics belong to asteroids, comets or meteors.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Asteroid Eros

For Students 8th - 10th
In this asteroid image worksheet, learners observe a photograph taken by the NEAR imager and they determine the scale of the image following the given steps. They solve 4 problems using the scaled image and determine the dimensions, the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Target Earth

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Space scientists use water displacement to determine the mass of a cubic centimeter mini meteorite, and then use it as a small-scale representative of an asteroid. They figure out the orbital velocity of an asteroid. Then they use a...
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Activity
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Teach Engineering

How Big? Necessary Area and Volume for Shelter

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Teams must determine the size of cavern needed to house the citizens of Alabraska to protect them from the asteroid impact. Using scaling properties, teams first determining the number of people that could sleep in a classroom and then...
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Activity
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Teach Engineering

Using Map Scales to Figure Distances and Areas

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
The asteroid is getting closer and the question is whether the state of Alabraska is large enough for the shelter calculated in the previous activity. Teams determine the scale of their project and then use the scale on the map to...
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Activity
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Teach Engineering

Identifying Possible Underground Cavern Locations

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Teams continue with the Asteroid Impact challenge and determine possible locations to construct their underground shelters. Participants cut scale area models of their shelters from paper and place them on the map to find locations to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Asteroids

For Teachers K - 12th
Students examine the different types of asteroids and how they enter the atmosphere.  In this space instructional activity students use mashed potatoes to create an asteroid they can eat.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Asteroids

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine a potential asteroid impact site. They describe evidence and theories for extinction events.
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Activity
It's About Time

Impact Events and the Earth System

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
What would happen to Earth if an asteroid struck it? Assist young scientists as they explore the mechanics of an impact event and effects caused by it; calculate the energy released once an asteroid strikes Earth's surface; and compare...

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