We’ll be learning about meteors, meteorites, comets, and meteoroids today and making a fun windsock. Also, you’ll love my Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages.
I have a cool space-themed craft.
We are creating a fun meteor windsock which can be used indoors or out.
This simple craft is a great way to introduce meteors, what they are, how they form, what they look like, and more.
As you create it together you can talk about facts, watch a video on meteors, or look for inspiration in your favorite book.
Before we jump into the craft let’s learn a bit more about what meteors are and what they aren’t.
Did you know that meteoroids, meteorites, and meteors are all the same things?
These are just different classifications that tell us about their position.
- A meteoroid is a small body moving in the solar system that will become a meteor if it enters the earth’s atmosphere.
- A meteor is a streak of light in the sky caused by a meteoroid passing through earth’s atmosphere.
- A meteorite is a small asteroid that has survived its passage through the planet’s atmosphere.
Asteroid or Meteor? If it is larger than 1 meter/3.2 feet in diameter, it is an asteroid. If it is 2 millimeters/.0078 inches to 1 meter/3.2 feet in size, then it is a meteoroid.
Comet or Meteor? A comet is a ball of ice and dust that orbits around the sun. A meteoroid is a small piece of an asteroid or a comet.
Meteor Shower- A meteor shower is what we call when a lot of meteors enter the atmosphere during a short period of time.
Meteor showers happen when Earth passes through the debris field of a comet or asteroid as these objects make their way around the sun and they drop smaller pieces along the way.
This is why scientists can generally predict known meteors around the same time each calendar year.
7 Interesting Facts About Meteors, Meteorites, Meteoroids, and Comets
- Meteors don’t have tails like comets. What you may see trailing behind is either a plasma trail or a dust tail.
- About 40 meteorite craters have been found on earth by scientists which are 12 miles in diameter or larger.
- Meteors are commonly called falling stars or shooting stars.
- Most asteroids orbit the sun in the area between Mars and Jupiter. This is called the asteroid belt.
- As comets orbit far from the sun, they travel at about 2,000 miles per hour. As they get closer to the sun, the speed increases- as fast as 100,000 miles per hour.
- More than 150 asteroids are known to have moons.
- Earth’s moon, Mars, and Mercury are covered with round impact craters from asteroid and meteor impacts.
Next, look at these meteorite activities.
Meteors, Meteorites, Meteoroids, and Comet Activities
- Watch What is a Meteor? Are Meteors The Same As Shooting Stars? on Youtube.
- Or look at Learn Brights Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors | Learn all about what they are made of and how they differ.
- This Burning Asteroid Craft is a great simple craft for younger learners.
- Work on preschoolers’ gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination with Asteroid Toss.
- A Glow in the Dark Comet project is a great way to illustrate the comet hurtling through space.
- I love to get out and actually experience as much as I can with kids. Here is a great post on How to Watch a Meteor Shower With Your Kids.
Moreover, look at my astronomy ideas below.
More Meteors, Meteorites, Comets and Meteoroids Today
Look at some of these crafts about astronomy and space to go along with this study today.
- About Astronomy and Space Science Fun Quick Unit Study
- Geronimo Stilton Mouse into Space:How to Make an EASY Straw Rocket
- Geronimo Stilton Theme Mouse in Space Fun Puffy Moon Craft (Glow in the Dark)
And add my space lapbook for a fun unit study.
It’s created for kids of multiple ages.
In addition, look at some of these books about astronomy.
11 Astronomy Resources & Books
Add one or two books to your unit study or use one as a spine for studying about space.
From the burning surface of Venus to the freezing darkness of Neptune, Gail Gibbons takes children on a tour of our planetary neighbors—which are very different from each other in size, shape, orbit, and even weather.
With her bestsellers Longitude and Galileo's Daughter, Dava Sobel introduced readers to her rare gift for weaving complex scientific concepts into a compelling narrative. Now Sobel brings her full talents to bear on what is perhaps her most ambitious topic to date-the planets of our solar system. Sobel explores the origins and oddities of the planets through the lens of popular culture, from astrology, mythology, and science fiction to art, music, poetry, biography, and history. Written in her characteristically graceful prose, The Planets is a stunningly original celebration of our solar system and offers a distinctive view of our place in the universe.
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon and, to an audience of over 450 million people, proclaimed his step a "giant leap for mankind."
Containing star charts, a guide to the constellations, and details about seasons and the movement of the objects we see in the sky, this classic book makes H. A. Rey’s passion for astronomy evident on every page.
New updates concentrate on the planetary and solar system information in the latter part of the book. Facts and figures for each planet have been revised, and new scientific information has been added, such as Pluto’s reclassification as a dwarf planet.
Our solar system consists of eight planets, as well as numerous moons, comets, asteroids, and meteoroids. For thousands of years, humans believed that Earth was at the center of the Universe, but all of that changed in the 17th century. Astronomers like Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, and Isaac Newton proposed the unthinkable theory that Earth and the other planets actually revolved around the Sun.
Gorgeous. Worth every penny! Signs & Seasons is an introduction to “Classical Astronomy,” the traditional, historical approach to the sky, as had been practiced from ancient times. The biblical basis for astronomy
Space is so much bigger than young minds can fathom and there is always more to learn. The Mysteries of the Universe is a stunning space encyclopedia for young readers to explore, with reference pages packed with fascinating information, little learners will be captivated as they journey through the vastness of the Universe.
Like a Facebook for the universe, Astronomy gives every important celestial body and concept its own page, where readers can learn its behaviors, likes, and dislikes up close and personal. From the flashy stars to the shadowy and strange objects that hang out like loners at the edges of the universe, no player goes unnoticed.
The Stargazers Guide to the Night Sky offers everything you need to explore the remarkable beauty of the stars, moon, and planets. Dr. Jason Lisle, a research scientist with a masters and Ph.D. in astrophysics provides a very thorough, practical and easy to read resource to fuel the curiosity of amateur astronomers ages 10 to 100.
【Planet Toys for Kids】Our wooden solar system puzzle is the PERFECT CHOICE for you and your kids as it is made from natural wood, vivid planet patten with well designed. This preschool learning activities is suitable for 3+ years kids and represents the perfect activity to learn through play!
The Solar System Planetarium set teaches children about the wonders of the solar system. Just assemble, paint and learn.
This set includes planets, stencils, squeeze glow paint pen, rods, string, a fact filled wall chart and 10 sets of Kidz Quiz questions.
How to Make Meteor Windsock
You want to go with the larger sheets of craft foam, like the 9×12, for this project so you have long trailing tails on the end.
You will need:
- Craft foam
- Hot glue
- Scissors
- School glue
- Hole punch
- Chenille stems
- String
- Glitter
- Glue gun/sticks
First, cut a piece of dark blue craft foam so that it is roughly 9×6 to represent the night sky.
With school glue “draw” stars, a milky way, or whatever you want on the sky.
Sprinkle with glitter and press into the glue gently. Set aside to dry.
Cut a large rocky meteor out of black or grey foam, draw with the glue, and add glitter to your meteor also if you wish.
Allow all the glue to dry completely.
While your glue is drying cut long streamers, to give the impression of the plasma trail of the comet. You want these fairly thin, so they are more flexible and move with the breeze.
Once the glue is dry, attach the meteor to the sky, I recommend a glue gun to fix it more permanently, take care not to touch the hot metal end directly to the foam.
Cut up smaller pieces of chenille stems to add to your meteor and tuck them under the edge as if they are trailing behind.
Give it a couple of minutes for the hot glue to set completely.
Punch a hole through either end and the center of the top of the blue section (sky).
Flip over the piece and hot glue down the streamers all along the bottom. Wait 2 minutes for the glue to set.
Carefully roll the entire thing and hot glue the ends together, hold them into place, or clamp them with clothespins until hardened.
