8th Grade Comet Lesson Plan

Topic: Introduction to Comets

Objectives & Outcomes

• To understand the composition and structure of a comet, its parts and its place on the solar system

Materials

• Images of comets
• Diagrams of comets' structure
• Handouts with information about comet
• Whiteboard and markers
• Computer with internet connection for research

Warm-up

• Ask the students if they have ever heard of comets. Ask them to share their knowledge about comets.
• Show the students images of comets and ask them to describe what they see.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the concept of a comet and its role in the solar system. Explain that comets are small objects that orbit the Sun and have a tail of gas and dust that extends away from the Sun.
• Explain the composition of comets, including the dust, ice, and gases that make up the comet's body.
• Discuss the parts of a comet, including the head, the tail, and the coma (the fuzzy area surrounding the head).
• Describe how a comet is formed, including the role of the solar wind, the Sun's radiation, and the gravitational pull of the planets.
• Explain the place of a comet in the solar system, including its orbit and its relationship to the planets.

Guided Practice

• Provide the students with a diagram of a comet and have them label the head, tail, coma, and other features.
• Have the students work in pairs to create a chart that compares the characteristics of comets and asteroids.
• Have the students research one specific comet and present their findings to the class, including information about the comet's orbit, composition, and any notable features.

Independent Practice

• Have the students use a planetscope or binoculars to observe a nearby comet (i.e. Halley's Comet).
• Have the students create a poster or presentation about their comet observation, including information about the comet's appearance, location, and any unique characteristics.

Closure

• Review the main points of the lesson with the students.
• Ask the students to share their comet observations and what they learned about comets.

Assessment:

• Observation of the comet during the lesson.
• Completion of the worksheet.
• Discussion during the closure activity.