This activity features real images of comets and challenges students to identify the different types of comet tails shown. It is an assessment activity that is based upon what students observed about comet tails in the activity Make A Comet.... (View More) Students can also complete this activity after using teacher-provided materials to learn about comet composition and tails. Students can complete this activity independently or in small groups. Detailed teacher pages, identified as Teaching Tips on the title page of Comets, provide science background information, lesson plan ideas, related resources, and alignment with national education standards. This activity is part of the online exploration Comets on the Amazing Space website. (View Less)

In this interactive, online activity, students explore the nature and composition of comets by selecting and mixing different elements and compounds found in a comet's nucleus. Students then observe the results of their mixtures upon the appearance... (View More) of the comet and its tail. Upon completion of this activity, students will be able to create their own comets and identify different types of comet tails. Students can complete this activity independently or in small groups. Detailed teacher pages, identified as Teaching Tips on the title page, provide science background information, lesson plan ideas, related resources, and alignment with national education standards. This activity is part of the online exploration Comets on the Amazing Space website. (View Less)

In this interactive module, students can vary the comet's angle of approach to see the effect of gravity on its trajectory towards Jupiter. The speed and masses of the two bodies are held constant. The goal is for the students to understand the... (View More) relationship between the distance from the planet and the force of gravity. Students may work independently or in small groups to complete this activity. It may also be done as a teacher-directed activity in the classroom. After completing this module, students will learn about how changing the angle of approach affects the force of gravity on a comet. This module is a part of the online exploration "Planet Impact!" An explanation of the science behind the animations can be found in "Science Scoop." More information on the crash of Shoemaker-Levy 9 on Jupiter can be obtained from "Gravity Gallery" and "Comet News." Detailed teacher pages, identified as Teaching Tips on the title pages of the activity, provide science background information, lesson plan ideas, related resources, and alignment with national education standards. (View Less)

This interactive, online activity allows students to explore myths, legends, and facts connected to the appearance of comets throughout history. Upon completion of this activity students will have read about comet facts, history, and discoveries.... (View More) Detailed teacher pages, identified as Teaching Tips on the title page, provide science background information, lesson plan ideas, related resources, and alignment with national education standards. This activity is part of the online exploration, Comets, on the Amazing Space website. (View Less)

This series of short articles details the discovery and subsequent impact of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 on Jupiter. The impending impact created quite a buzz among scientists since it marked the first of its kind. Student may work independently or in... (View More) small groups to complete each article. It may also be done as a teacher-directed activity in the classroom. This module is a part of the online exploration "Planet Impact!" Detailed teacher pages, identified as Teaching Tips on the title pages of the activity, provide science background information, lesson plan ideas, related resources, and alignment with national education standards. (View Less)