Objectives
Lesson Overview
Materials/Resources
Background Information
Developing the Lesson
Closure
Evaluation

The Difference Between Comets, Meteors and Asteroids

Module 5: Comets, Meteors and Asteroids

This activity requires approximately one class period (~50 minutes)

Pan-Canadian Curriculum Objectives:

209-4
organize data using a format that is appropriate to the task or experiment (e.g., maintain a log of their observations of changes in the night sky; prepare a comparative data table on various stars)

312-5
describe the composition and characteristics of the components of the solar system

• Pan-Canadian Objectives

• Introduction to Comets, Meteors and Asteroids Movie
• Student Worksheet
• Teacher Worksheet Key

Vocabulary:

• Astronomy Glossary

• asteroid
• comet
• meteor
• meteoroid

Module 5 inclusive

1. Data Sheet
2. Data Sheet
3. Data Sheet

Anticipatory Set

The teacher wil begin with focus questions:

1. Do you know the difference between comets and meteors?
2. Did you know that comets travel across the sky very slowly?
3. Do you know where comets come from?

Introduction

The teacher should then provide students with brief overview of comets, meteors, and asteroids.

The teacher will then show the Introduction to Comets, Meteors and Asteroids Movie

After the movie has finished distribute and explain the worksheets to the students.

Hands-on Activity

Students are to use the list of characteristics at the bottom of the worksheet to fill in the Venn diagram. Students will work independently to fill in the diagram. Students will also need to include a short paragraph explaining the similarities and differences between comets, meteors and asteroids. Students must be able to justify and explain why they placed the characteristics in the different parts of the diagram.

Check for Understanding

The teacher will circulate through the classroom monitoring students progress. Once all students have had the opportunity to complete the diagram, begin the closure acvitity .

As a closure activity, the teacher will review the diagram with the students. The teacher should make an overhead image of the diagram to fill in eliciting feedback from the students. Once completed, the teacher should summarize the characteristics displayed in the diagram.

Extension:

After completing this lesson, the teacher might choose to teach the Comet Linear calculations lesson in an effort to provide students with a hands-on analysis of the study of comets.

Once the entire activity has been completed, the teacher should take in the students' worksheets for grading.

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