NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Unit: Earth and Space Science --
  Remote Sensing

  Grade Levels: 7-9

  Connection To Curriculum:
  Science, Technology
  and Mathematics

  Teacher Prep Time: 1 hour
  (depending on instructor's familiarity
  with landforms and the availability of
  student Internet access)

  Lesson Time Needed: 1.5 hours

  Complexity: Basic

  Keywords: Earth, topography,
  atmosphere satellite technology,
  scientific process, satellite images,
  extraterrestial objects, meteorite,
  teamwork, data analysis, velocity,
  kinetic energy, latitude, longitude,
  geography

Materials:

Student Worksheets
Student Worksheet for Step 1:
When an Extraterrestrial Object Hits the Earth
Student Worksheet for Step 2:
Known Effects of Impact Events
Student Worksheet for Step 4:
Describing Satellite Images of Possible Impact Craters
Student Worksheet for Step 6:
Questions You Would Ask on a Field Expedition to a Possible Impact Crater
Satellite images of landforms with pseudonyms for student use
(Students may recognize some names and already know whether they are impact craters.)
Aorounga (Aor)
Elgygytgyn (Elg)
Haughton (Hgh)
Manicougan (Man)
Mount St. Helens (Msh)
Richat (Rch)
Schooner (Sch)
Teacher Reference Sheet
Teacher Sheet

Description
Remote satellite images of the Earth are used to distinguish impact craters from other landforms.

Objectives
Students will:
• Describe the effects of extraterrestrial objects upon the Earth's topography, atmosphere and living organisms.
• Describe the role of satellite technology in helping scientists to identify evidence of impact events.
• Describe why and how science is an ongoing process of discovery.

Lesson Guide Impact Craters Lesson [78KB PDF file]

Professional Development Training Module for This Lesson

› Finding Impact Craters training module  → Note: Module may take a few minutes to load. Download Video

› Help me! I can't see the training module.

Lesson Activities and Sequence

1. Finding Impact Craters
   This activity will guide students through discussions regarding known impacts that have occurred on the Earth and the possible outcomes that have resulted.
   
   Working in teams of three to five, students will then evaluate satellite images of the Earth to determine the traits associated with impact craters in different regions of the world.
   
   The activity description contains six steps with the first three steps providing background, which may or may not be required for every group in the upper grade levels.
   
   Keywords: Earth, topography, atmosphere satellite technology, scientific process, satellite images, extraterrestial objects, meteorite, teamwork, data analysis, velocity, kinetic energy, latitude, longitude, geography

National Standards: