Exploring Meteorite MysteriesA Teacher�s Guide with Activities for

Earth and Space Sciences

Educational ProductTeachers Grades 5-12National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Exploring Meteorite MysteriesA Teacher�s Guide with Activities for

Earth and Space Sciences

EG-1997-08-104-HQNational Aeronautics andSpace Administration

Office of Space ScienceSolar System Exploration Division

Office of Human Resources and Education

Education Division

August 1997

This publication is in the Public Domain and is not copyrighted.Permission is not required for duplication.

i NASA EG-1997-08-104-HQ

Acknowledgements

This teacher’s guide was developed in a partnership betweenscientists in the Planetary Materials Office, at NASA’s Johnson SpaceCenter in Houston, Texas, and teachers from local school districts.

On the Cover—

Several aspects of a meteoritefall are depicted on the cover.The background is a paintingcreated by an eyewitness ofthe Sikhote-Alin fireball. Atthe top is the asteroid Ida, apossible source of meteorites.At the bottom is MeteorCrater in Arizona—the firstidentified meteorite impactcrater.

*Now at the Lunar & Planetary Institute, Houston, Texas. **Now at Antarctic Support Services, Denver, Colorado.

NASA and Contractor Staff

Marilyn LindstromProject Coordinator and Meteorite CuratorNASA Johnson Space CenterHouston, Texas

Jaclyn AllenScientist and Science Education SpecialistLockheed Martin Engineering & Sciences Co.Houston, Texas

Allan Treiman* and Carl AllenPlanetary ScientistsLockheed Martin Engineering & Sciences Co.Houston, Texas

Anita DodsonGraphic DesignerLockheed Martin Engineering & Sciences Co.Houston, Texas

Teachers

JoAnne BurchPearland ISD,ElementaryPearland, Texas

Karen CrowellPasadena ISD,ElementaryPasadena, Texas

Roy LukschAlvin ISD,High SchoolAlvin, Texas

Karen StoccoPasadena ISD,High SchoolPasadena, Texas

Bobbie SwabyPasadena ISD,Middle SchoolPasadena, Texas

Kay TobolaAlvin ISD,Middle SchoolAlvin, Texas

We would also like to thank the following for reviews and meteorite samples:

NASA - Don Bogard, Mark Cintala, Everett Gibson, Kathleen McBride, Dave Mittlefehldt, Larry Nyquist, CeciliaSatterwhite, Carol Schwarz, Roberta Score,** Faith Vilas, and Mike Zolensky.

NASA/OSU - Richard Adams, Jim Fitzgerald, Larry Gilbert, Les Gold, Tibisay Marin, Debbie Shearer, Greg Vogt,and Ralph Winrich.

Teachers - Gregg Baumgartner, Stephanie McNeel, and Susan Ross (Alvin ISD); Jean Groover and John Ristvey(Clear Creek ISD); Cathy Corley and Jeanie Thuneman (Friendswood ISD) and John Beasley (Stafford MSD).

Organizations - U.S. Antarctic Program (NSF), NNMH Smithsonian Institution, NASA, and the Field Museum ofNatural History.

National Aeronautics andSpace AdministrationLyndon B. Johnson Space CenterEarth Science and Solar SystemExploration Divison

ii NASA EG-1997-08-104-HQ

Contents

About Exploring Meteorite Mysteries ...........................................................................................................................iiiAbout the Meteorite Disk ................................................................................................................................................ ivAbout the Slide Set .......................................................................................................................................................... ivScience Process Skills ...................................................................................................................................................... vScience and Mathematics Standards ..............................................................................................................................viiLesson Topic Planner ...................................................................................................................................................... ixLesson Sequence Suggestions ......................................................................................................................................... x

Teacher’s GuideMeteorites, Clues to Solar System History ............................................................................................................... 1Meteorite ABC’s Fact Sheet .................................................................................................................................... 29Solar System ABC’s Fact Sheet .............................................................................................................................. 31

Mysterious MeteoritesLesson 1: Noblesville Fall ..................................................................................................................................... 1.1

Where Do They Come From?Lesson 2: Follow the Falling Meteorite ................................................................................................................. 2.1Lesson 3: Searching for Meteorites ....................................................................................................................... 3.1Lesson 4: The Meteorite-Asteroid Connection ..................................................................................................... 4.1Lesson 5: Looking at Asteroids ............................................................................................................................. 5.1Lesson 6: Impact Craters — Holes In the Ground! ................................................................................................ 6.1Lesson 7: Crater Hunters ........................................................................................................................................ 7.1

What Are They?Lesson 8: Edible Rocks ......................................................................................................................................... 8.1Lesson 9: Meteorite Sleuths! ................................................................................................................................. 9.1

How Did They Form?Lesson 10: Building Blocks of Planets ...............................................................................................................10.1Lesson 11: Changes Inside Planets ......................................................................................................................11.1Lesson 12: Building Blocks of Life .....................................................................................................................12.1Lesson 13: Solving a Mystery .............................................................................................................................13.1

What Effect Do They Have?Lesson 14: Direct Hit at the K-T Boundary .........................................................................................................14.1Lesson 15: Historical Meteorite Falls ..................................................................................................................15.1Lesson 16: Near Miss ...........................................................................................................................................16.1

How Can I Use Them?Lesson 17: Asteroid Resources ............................................................................................................................17.1

Is There a Career for Me?Lesson 18: Antarctic Meteorite Teams .................................................................................................................18.1

What Can We Believe?Lesson 19: The Daily Shooting Star....................................................................................................................19.1

Glossary ........................................................................................................................................................................ A.1Education Resources .................................................................................................................................................... B.1

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About Exploring Meteorite Mysteries

Teachers and scientists designed this book to engage students in inquiry science and to extend science withinterdisciplinary connections. The study of meteorites provides a unifying theme that links almost everyaspect of Earth and planetary science with mathematics, physics, chemistry and even biology. The effects ofmeteorite impacts have serious implications for social science. The activities in this book are designed forupper elementary to high school levels. Many of the lessons begin with a simple activity and build to morecomplex ones. The Curriculum Content Matrix, Lesson Topic Planner and Lesson Sequence Suggestionsmay assist teachers in integrating the meteorite activities with their existing Earth science curricula andstandards requirements.

The Teacher’s Guide, Meteorites, Clues to Solar System History, gives a broad introduction to manyaspects of meteorite science. It tells the story of solar system history from the formation of the planets tocatastrophic impacts on Earth. It helps the students learn how scientists use studies of these rocks fromspace to decipher that history. The Meteorite ABC’s and Solar System ABC’s Fact Sheets containimportant information about meteorites and bodies in the solar system in convenient table format.

The Activities are divided into units based on key questionsstudents may ask about meteorites. For example, the unitentitled “Where do they come from?” contains six lessons withmany activities that explore that question. The activities rangefrom introductory impact experiments to rather complex orbitconstructions that use beginning geometry. Some lessons aredesigned to use the Meteorite Sample Disk, although mostlessons do not require the disk. All the lessons could betaught in the science classroom, but many lessons couldbe used in other areas. The lessons include both teacherand student pages, both of which may be copied asneeded. Measurements are given in metric units withsome English units in parentheses for commonhousehold items.

The book concludes with a Glossary and anEducation Resources section. Key words thatappear in bold in the Teachers’ Guide or asvocabulary in the Activities are defined in theglossary. The Education Resources section listsspecific books and supporting materials formeteorites. It also provides a guide to accessing thebroad range of NASA resources for educators.

iv NASA EG-1997-08-104-HQ

About the Slide Set

About the Meteorite Sample Disk

The Meteorite Sample Disk contains six labeled meteorites embedded ina 15 cm plastic disk. These pieces of asteroids represent the products ofbasic planetary processes: accretion, differentiation, volcanism andimpact. Educators may borrow the Meteorite Sample Disk containingthese rocks from space to help students learn about the early history ofthe solar system. The Meteorite Sample Disk package contains the disk,a copy of this activity guide, and the Exploring Meteorite Mysteriesslide set described below.

To borrow the Meteorite Sample Disk educators must first attend a shortcertification briefing on security requirements and handling procedures.

This is the same certification as for borrowing the Lunar Sample Disk. These briefings are given by NASAstaff at locations around the country. Following certification educators may request the loan of the disks forperiods of one to two weeks. Written requests should be sent to the NASA Educator Resource Center inyour geographic area at least one month before the requested loan date. For more information onscheduling certification and request procedures, educators should contact their Educator Resource Centerat the locations given on page B.2 at the end of this book.

A set of forty-eight 35 mm slides has been prepared to supplement theactivities in this Exploring Meteorite Mysteries book. The slides andnarrative descriptions are divided into four parts. The first 25 slidespresent a general introduction to meteorites and what they tell us about thehistory of the solar system. It begins with observations of meteorite falls,depicts meteorites and their formation processes, and concludes with theirimpact on life and future exploration of the solar system. The remaining threeparts are more detailed sections for use with various lessons in the activity guide. These sections reusesome of the slides from the introduction. One section on impact craters illustrates craters on Earth, theMoon and other planets. The next section on classification and formation depicts various meteorite typesand the processes of accretion, differentiation, volcanism, and impact. The final section shows collection,curation, and research on Antarctic meteorites.

The slide set is distributed to educators with the Meteorite Sample Disk. Anyone desiring a permanentcopy of the slide set may order it at cost from NASA Central Operation of Resources for Educators(CORE). The address and various contacts for CORE are listed on page B.2 at the back of this book.

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Science Process Skillsfor Exploring Meteorite Mysteries

This chart is designed to assist teachers in integrating the activities contained in the guide with existing curricula.

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Mysterious Lesson 1 ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Meteorites Noblesville Fall

“Where Do Lesson 2 ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔They Come Follow theFrom?” Falling Meteorite

Lesson 3 ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Searchingfor Meteorites

Lesson 4 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔The Meteorite-AsteroidConnection

Lesson 5 ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Looking atAsteroids

Lesson 6 ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Impact Craters—Holes in theGround!

Lesson 7 ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Crater Hunters

“What Are Lesson 8 ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔They?” Edible Rocks

vi NASA EG-1997-08-104-HQ

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“What Are Lesson 9 ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔They?” Meteorite Sleuths!

“How Did Lesson 10 ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔They Building BlocksForm?” of Planets

Lesson 11 ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Changes InsidePlanets

Lesson 12 ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Building Blocksof Life

Lesson 13 ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Solving aMystery

“What Lesson 14 ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Effect Do Direct Hit at theThey K-T BoundaryHave?”

Lesson 15 ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔HistoricalMeteorite Falls

Lesson 16 ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Near Miss

“How Can I Lesson 17 ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Use Them? Asteroid Resources

“Is There Lesson 18 ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔a Career Antarctic Meteoritefor Me?” Teams

“What Can Lesson 19 ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔We The Daily ShootingBelieve?” Star

vii NASA EG-1997-08-104-HQ

Lesson 1Noblesville Fall ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔

Lesson 2Follow the ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Falling Meteorite

Lesson 3Searching ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔for Meteorites

Lesson 4The Meteorite-Asteroid ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Connection

Lesson 5Looking at ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Asteroids

Lesson 6Impact Craters—Holes in the ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Ground!

Lesson 7Crater Hunters ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔

Lesson 8Edible Rocks ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔

Science and Mathematics Standardsfor Exploring Meteorite Mysteries

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Lesson 9Meteorite Sleuths ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔

Lesson 10Building Blocks of ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Planets

Lesson 11Changes Inside ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Planets

Lesson 12Building Blocks ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔of Life

Lesson 13Solving a Mystery ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔

Lesson 14Direct Hit at the K-T ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Boundary

Lesson 15Historical Meteorite ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Falls

Lesson 16Near Miss ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔

Lesson 17Asteroid Resources ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔

Lesson 18Antarctic Meteorite ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Teams

Lesson 19The Daily Shooting ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔ ✔✔✔✔✔Star

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ix NASA EG-1997-08-104-HQ

Lesson Topic Plannerfor Exploring Meteorite Mysteries

This matrix indicates some of the lessons in Exploring Meteorite Mysteries that could be used to enhanceselected science topic themes frequently used in Earth/Space Science curricula.

Natural Resources/National ParksLesson 3 Searching for MeteoritesLesson 10 Building Blocks of PlanetsLesson 11 Changes Inside PlanetsLesson 12 Building Blocks of PlanetsLesson 17 Asteroid Resources

Historical Connections/ People/CareersLesson 1 Noblesville FallLesson 7 Crater HuntersLesson 14 Direct Hit at the K-T BoundaryLesson 15 Historical Meteorite FallsLesson 16 Near MissLesson 18 Antarctic Meteorite TeamsLesson 19 The Daily Shooting Star

Space (Stars and Solar System)Lesson 1 Noblesville FallLesson 2 Follow the Falling MeteoriteLesson 3 Searching for MeteoritesLesson 4 The Meteorite-Asteroid ConnectionLesson 5 Looking at AsteroidsLesson 10 Building Blocks of PlanetsLesson 11 Changes Inside PlanetsLesson 17 Asteroid Resources

Metric and Scientific Method (students use metricmeasurements in activities)

Lesson 2 Follow the Falling MeteoriteLesson 4 The Meteorite-Asteroid ConnectionLesson 6 Impact Craters — Holes in the Ground!Lesson 9 Meteorite Sleuths

Water (fresh and oceans)Lesson 12 Building Blocks of LifeLesson 14 Direct Hit at the K-T BoundaryLesson 16 Near MissLesson 17 Asteroid Resources

Atmosphere/Climate/WeatherLesson 14 Direct Hit at the K-T BoundaryLesson 16 Near Miss

Rocks/Minerals/Geologic TimeLesson 1 Noblesville FallLesson 6 Impact Craters — Holes in the Ground!Lesson 7 Crater HuntersLesson 8 Edible RocksLesson 9 Meteorite SleuthsLesson 10 Building Block of PlanetsLesson 11 Changes Inside PlanetsLesson 12 Building Blocks of LifeLesson 13 Solving a MysteryLesson 14 Direct Hit at the K-T Boundary

Planet DynamicsEarthquakes

Lesson 14 Direct Hit at the K-T BoundaryLesson 16 Near MissLesson 6 Impact Craters — Holes in the Ground!

Plate Tectonics and VolcanismLesson 7 Crater HuntersLesson 10 Building Blocks of PlanetsLesson 11 Changes Inside PlanetsLesson 14 Direct Hit at the K-T Boundary

Weathering and ErosionLesson 6 Impact Craters — Holes in the Ground!Lesson 7 Crater Hunters

x NASA EG-1997-08-104-HQ

Lesson Groups are suggested for one or a combination of several of the following criteria: time available inthe classroom, theme or topic of existing curricula, Meteorite Sample Disk availability, and interdisciplinaryconnections. More than one lesson could be accomplished in a 90-minute class. Some lessons may beinserted directly into existing Earth/Space Science curricula as enrichment activities without a more extensivemeteorite focus.

Lesson Sequence Suggestionsfor Exploring Meteorite Mysteries

Activities Without Meteorite Sample Disk

Stand alone activities for one or two class periodswithout Meteorite Sample Disk.

Lesson 1 Noblesville FallLesson 2 Follow the Falling MeteoriteLesson 4 The Meteorite-Asteroid Connection:

Orbits in the inner Solar SystemLesson 6 Impact Craters —Holes in the Ground!Lesson 7 Crater HuntersLesson 8 Edible RocksLesson 10 Building Blocks of Planets (non-

Meteorite Sample Disk activities only)Lesson 11 Changes Inside Planets (non-Meteorite

Sample Disk activities only)Lesson 12 Building Blocks of LifeLesson 14 Direct Hit at the K-T BoundaryLesson 15 Historical Meteorite FallsLesson 16 Near MissLesson 18 Antarctic Meteorite Teams

One week without Meteorite Sample Disk. (Emphasizingbasic meteorite background and hands-on activities on impactcratering.)

Lesson 1 Noblesville FallLesson 2 Follow the Falling MeteoriteLesson 3 Searching for MeteoritesLesson 6 Impact Craters —Holes in the Ground!

One or two weeks without Meteorite Sample Disk.(Emphasizing basic meteorite background and hands-onactivities about the origin and physical characteristics ofmeteorites.)

Lesson 1 Noblesville FallLesson 8 Edible RocksLesson 10 Building Blocks of PlanetsLesson 11 Changes Inside PlanetsLesson 12 Building Blocks of LifeLesson 13 Solving a Mystery

Activities With Meteorite Sample Disk

One or two class periods with Meteorite Sample Disk.(other lessons do not need the Disk)

Sequence of :

Lesson 1 Noblesville FallLesson 10 Building Blocks of PlanetsLesson 11 Changes inside Planets

or

Lesson 8 Edible RocksLesson 10 Building Blocks of PlanetsLesson 11 Changes Inside Planets

or

Lesson 8 Edible RocksLesson 9 Meteorite Sleuths!

One week with a Meteorite Sample Disk.

Sequence of :

Lesson 1 Noblesville FallLesson 8 Edible RocksLesson 10 Building Blocks of PlanetsLesson 11 Changes Inside Planets

or

Lesson 1 Noblesville FallLesson 8 Edible RocksLesson 9 Meteorite Sleuths!