Fantastic Facts: Asteroids and Comets

Fantastic Facts: Asteroids and Comets

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to distinguish between asteroids and comets, understand their features and locations, and create a scientific diagram with labels.

What do you already know about asteroids and comets?

What Are Asteroids?

Asteroids are rocky objects that orbit the Sun, mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Asteroid Features

Asteroids are generally irregular in shape and do not have a volatile component like a tail.

Where Are Asteroids Found?

Asteroids can be found in the asteroid belt, but some also come close to Earth's orbit.

What Are Comets?

Comets are icy bodies with a tail, originating from the outer solar system or the Oort Cloud.

Comet Features

Comets have a distinct coma (a cloud of gas and dust) and a tail that points away from the Sun.

Where Are Comets Found?

Comets can be found in the outer solar system and occasionally enter the inner solar system on highly elliptical orbits.

Comparison: Asteroids vs. Comets

Asteroids are rocky and mostly found in the asteroid belt, while comets are icy and originate from the outer solar system or the Oort Cloud.

Making Predictions

Based on what you've learned, predict what might happen if an asteroid or a comet were to approach Earth.

Creating a Scientific Diagram

Draw a scientific diagram illustrating the differences between asteroids and comets, labeling their key features.

Conclusion

Summarize the key differences between asteroids and comets and discuss the significance of understanding these celestial objects.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.