My students need materials for creating models of meteorite impact sites. This includes clay, cocoa, gold/silver paper, presentation paper, baking dishes, and more.
Thousands of meteorites fall on our planet each year--and students are always interested in forces of nature that change the terrain of our planet and the moon! My students are fascinated with Earth processes. They love working with hands-on activities and are especially curious about craters!
We are a NASA Explorer School and use space science to excite and motivate our students.
Middle school students are especially excited about meteors!! I teach Science and an elective Aerospace course at a rural middle school in western Washington. My school serves children from grades 6-8.
My Project
My students will construct models of the moon's surface. A baking tray will keep the materials in a confined space. Students will fill the pan with sugar to simulate the surface of the moon. The moon is covered with a gently rolling layer of powdery soil and scattered rocks that is called the regolith. Clay rocks will be placed in an uneven distribution on top of the sugar. The moon also has distinct light and dark areas. A layer of cocoa will be sifted over the sugar in an uneven distribution. The cocoa represents the maria on the moon. The maria are the darker areas and were formed by lava flooding the surface of the moon early in its formation.
Students will construct and launch meteors. The meteors will be fashioned out of modeling clay, cereal, and gold and silver foiled paper. By changing the shape and density of the model meteors, students can analyze the impact of meteors and impactors of differing compositions and shapes.
Each meteor will be dropped at 90, 60, and 45 degree angles.
The angle of impact will affect the crater shape and the ejecta pattern. Students may extend this experiment by varying the speed at which the meteor is thrown or dropped. Students may also introduce additional variables by using different sized meteors. By helping students to learn about processes that affect their home planet and its moon, middle schoolers can be part of the next generation of engineers and researchers!
More than a third of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Borders and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.