This is a lesson about observing and examining meteorites in a Meteorite Sample Disc. Learners will practice scientific techniques, develop skills in acquiring data through the senses, observe, examine, record, and sketch data, use magnifying... (View More) glasses, microscopes, and balances, and experience conceptual application. This is lesson 9 of 19 in Exploring Meteorite Mysteries. (View Less)

This is a lesson about the connection between meteorites and asteroids, focusing on remote-sensing techniques using light. Learners will make and record observations and measurements; analyze data and draw analogies; compare samples; measure and... (View More) record the brightness of spectral light; discover the composition of white light; participate in introductory quantitative spectroscopy experiments; set up, conduct and analyze a reflected light experiment; and recognize/discover that different materials reflect different proportions of incident light. Activities, vocabulary words, and experimental extensions are included. This is lesson 5 of 19 in Exploring Meteorite Mysteries. (View Less)

This is a lesson about the important materials brought to Earth by carbonaceous chondrites. Learners will conduct experiments that simulate how the carbon material and water from carbonaceous chondrites may have helped early life on Earth, grow... (View More) yeast in mediums that represent carbonaceous chondrite material, and recognize that carbonaceous chondrite meteorites contain amino acids, the buildng blocks of life. Advanced preparation and procedural tips are included. This is lesson 12 of 19 in Exploring Meteorite Mysteries. (View Less)

This is a lesson about the path meteorites take to get from the asteroid belt to Earth and how rare it is for the Earth to be hit by a large asteroid. Three activities comprise the lesson. Learners will draw circles and ellipses to illustrate basic... (View More) shapes of orbits in the solar system (Activity A); construct a scale-model of the inner solar system, observe relative distances and sizes, plot paths meteoroids might take and manipulate models to demonstrate the ecliptic plane (Activity B); and graph the locations of Earth and a near-earth asteroid, observe the significance of time and space, and estimate when the asteroid might cross the orbit of Earth (Activity C). Activities, vocabulary words, and experimental extensions are included. This is Lesson 4 of 19 in Exploring Meteorite Mysteries. (View Less)

Learners will view slides and read about meteorite recovery expeditions to Antarctica, explore science careers, evaluate the characteristics and skills required for curating and working with meteorites, create scientific teams, and make written and... (View More) oral presentations about their chosen scientific teams. Materials and vocabulary lists, and advanced preparation and procedural tips are included. This is lesson 18 of 19 in Exploring Meteorite Mysteries. (View Less)

Learners will conduct an investigation, observe and record the physical characteristics of an unknown rock (meteorite), determine the mass of the unknown rock using math skills, determine the density of the rock, describe and classify a meteorite,... (View More) apply observations and knowledge to the process of a scientific investigation, present evidence to verify classification decisions, and explore concepts of spatial relationships. Completion of all parts of the lesson is necessary to identify the unknown. Advanced preparation and procedural tips are included. This is lesson 13 of 19 in Exploring Meteorite Mysteries. (View Less)