Solar System Exploration: Education: Fast Lesson Finder


	Dirty Snowballs - Comets Comets may tell us the story of the early solar system. Their orbits, their compositions, and the possibility that they delivered the elements of life to our planet make them exciting and interesting. The study of comets is a part earth science and astronomy.

Activity Title:

Aerogello

General Description:

Participants simulate and observe the collection of particles substituting gelatin for the aerogel. Aerogel is a silica dioxide gel with the lowest density solid known used on STARDUST to collect comet and interstellar dust particles.

Content Standard:

Earth and Space Science: Understand the Origin and Evolution of the Earth System

General Topic:

Sample Collection & Examination

Source:

Stardust Mission

Body:

Comets

Grade Level:

5-8

Mission:

Stardust-NExT

Background:

Missions to Comets

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Activity Title:

Build Your Own Comet

General Description:

Participants may assist leaders in constructing a comet of dry ice and dirt. The model can then be used to demonstrate why comets have tails and why the tail always points away from the sun, sublimation, orbits of comets, and concepts of radiation, pressure, and solar wind.

Content Standard:

Earth and Space Science: Objects in the Sky

General Topic:

Modeling

Source:

Dr. Dennis Schatz, Pacific Science Center

Body:

Comets

Grade Level:

5-8

Mission:

Deep Impact-EPOXI

Activity Title:

Comet on a Stick

General Description:

Participants use a model to consider the influence of the Sun on comets, and then examine the strengths and weaknesses of this model.

Content Standard:

Earth and Space Science: Structure of the Earth System

General Topic:

Modeling

Source:

Deep Impact

Body:

Comets

Grade Level:

5-8

Mission:

Deep Impact-EPOXI

Background:

Missions to Comets

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Activity Title:

Comet Origins and Travels

General Description:

Participants examine comet constitution and their origins.

Content Standard:

Abilities Necessary to do Scientific Inquiry: Develop Descriptions, Explanations, Predictions and Models Using Evidence

General Topic:

Origins

Source:

Stardust Education

Body:

Solar System

Grade Level:

5-8

Background:

Missions to Comets>

Activity Title:

Cooking Up a Comet

General Description:

Participants use a teacher-centered demonstration that dramatically and physically models a comet using dry ice and other ingredients.

General Topic:

Modeling

Source:

Stardust Educator Guide

Body:

Comets

Grade Level:

5-8

Mission:

Stardust-NExT

Activity Title:

Exploring Comets and Modeling for Mission Success

General Description:

Participants examine the effectiveness of using models for mission planning.

Content Standard:

Science and Technology: Propose Designs and Choose Between Alternative Solutions

General Topic:

Modeling

Source:

Deep Impact

Body:

Comets

Grade Level:

K-4, 9-12

Mission:

Stardust-NExT

Background:

Missions to Comets

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Activity Title:

Make a Comet Model and Eat It

General Description:

Participants create an edible model using what we think we know about comets. One sample is given to another research team to determine its structure and composition.

Content Standard:

Science and Technology: Abilities of Technological Design

General Topic:

Modeling

Source:

Deep Impact

Body:

Comets

Grade Level:

K-4, 5-8

Mission:

Deep Impact-EPOXI

Background:

Missions to Comets

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