Astronomy unit Part 5 Main Asteroid Belt, Meteors, Impact Craters, NEO's

This product includes 7 lessons (about 50 minutes each) about the Main Asteroid Belt, Craters, Impact Events, Near Earth Objects, Research Opportunities, Impactor Lab, and Review Games. Amazing and interactive slideshows walk students through an interactive and engaging learning experience. A 13 page work bundle chronologically follows the entire lesson bundle so students can record important fill-in notes, collect data, graph, research, and record answers to assessments. Everything you need to run a 7 day learning experience is provided. A crossword puzzle and review game conclude the learning experience for a fantastic review and assessment. This lesson bundle is part 5 of our  7 part Astronomy Unit 

This PowerPoint Begins with some really nice visuals of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. A red slide note has students record a description of the asteroid belt. Provided notes can be passed out to students who may require assistance. The asteroids Vesta and Ceres get some special attention with visuals. Mention to the possibility of an ice mantle on Ceres is described. A video link (a few minutes only) about Ceres is provided as is a link to the Arcade Classic Asteroids. Watching the teacher get blown up by an asteroid is always a student favorite only takes a few minutes. Meteorites are then mentioned (red slide) and some examples on earth are shown such as the Hoba West and Willamette Meteorite. A link to google earth is provided and a list of really neat meteorite sites provided (need to download google earth prior). Visuals follow this link to various craters around our planet and their relative age. References to the Chicxulub Crater and the Tunguska Event are described in greater detail. Also provided are some slides and info about the recent Russian asteroid, and 2102 DA14. A link to a neat video short has the students decide if a YouTube clip is real or fake of a meteorite impact event. The clip is fake although the effects are well done. Meteoroids are addressed (red slide note) and alink to a neat clip of meteoroids in the night sky with tranquil music. The moon and it's history of impacts are covered in a step by step process and a link to the impact event on Jupiter of the Shoemaker Levy Comet is provided. NEO's are then addressed as a red slide (Near Earth Object). The Torino Scale is addressed and students learn what each rating 1-10 means. Students put their skills to work answering a series of questions about the Torino Scale that has them use a diagram. Asteroid QQ47 (NEO's) is described and a short article provided. Students read the article and then answer some questions in the slideshow. The answers are provided. NEO MN4 is also addressed. A video link is provided about an impact of a 10 on the Torino Scale. A neat hands on activity then discusses craters. Students learn about craters and parts of craters. Directions are built-into the slideshow that has the students drop marbles into a tray of sand. Students cut a circle in black construction paper and lay it over the sand. They then drop the marble into the sand from various heights. Student measure the distance of ejecta (sand on the paper), depth of the crater, and diameter of the crater. They make the connection between height of the drop, mass of the marble, and the size of the crater. Questions and answers are built-into the slideshow. A series of hidden box games conclude this PowerPoint that has the students guess relevant pictures from the slideshow. Each slide reveals more of the picture beneath as students take turns guessing. A 1-10 with 5 for fun bonus questions conclude the lesson. Students record their answers on the quiz sheet and are able to grade their own. The question is provided one last time before the answer is revealed so the teacher can call upon students or table groups. This is a really neat PowerPoint that I have been using for years with great results. The crater impact activity is awesome.

This PowerPoint includes critical notes (Red Slides), exciting visuals, challenge questions, activities with directions and more. Text is usually placed at the top of the slide so it can be read from all angles of a classroom. Color coded slides, as well as a shade technique is used to increase student focus and allows the teacher to control the pace of the lesson. These PowerPoints are meant to be interactive as possible and ask many questions, provides built in review opportunities, explains directions to activities, and much more. Transition effects are never used.