Learn about asteroids, meteors and comets
You’ll need
- Printed copies of the comet templates and planet templates
- Colouring pens or pencils (blue, orange, red, yellow and grey)
- Craft glue
- Aprons
- Glue spreader
- Scissors
- Paper plates
- White and grey chalk sticks
- Butter knife or plastic knife
- White poster paint
- Black poster paint
- Paintbrushes
- Paint pallets
- Water pots
- Thick paintbrush
- Small bowls of sand
Before you begin
- Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. There's also more guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.
- Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
- Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help.
Running this activity
- Gather everyone together and ask if anyone knows what an asteroid is.
- Talk about the difference between asteroids, meteoroids, meteors and comets. You can find information on this page.
Asteroids are big pieces of rock which float about in space and orbit the Sun. There are lots of asteroids in our solar system. They’re mostly found in an asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The largest asteroid is called Ceres, and it’s around 940km wide, which is double the size of the Grand Canyon in America. Smaller asteroids can be around six metres in size.
When asteroids collide into each other, small pieces break off due to the collision. These small pieces of rock are called meteoroids, and they can be as small as a grain of sand.
When a meteoroid gets close to the Earth and enters the Earth’s atmosphere, they are burned up as they enter and then fall to the ground. The burning trail they make as they enter is known as the meteor and it’s usually seen as bright fireball with a burning tail in the sky. They’re also known as shooting stars.
Comets are made of ice and dust, not rock. They’re a like a giant dirty snowball. They’re like asteroids, but asteroids are made of rock. Like asteroids, comets float through space and orbit the Sun. As the comet orbits the Sun, the heat from the Sun melts the ice and dust, turning it from solid to gas. It's this gas that creates a beautiful bright tail. Comets can be seen in the sky even though they are very far away. However meteors can only be seen when they enter the Earth’s atmosphere are burn up upon entry.
Making a comet
- Give everyone a copy of the comet template and get them to colour in the different parts with the corresponding colours.
- Once they have completed this, they then need to cut each piece out.
- Stick the grey circle on the base of the orange flame. Then stick the orange flame on top of the yellow flame and finally stick the yellow flame onto the blue flame. Your comet is now complete.
Making asteroid belt art
- Give everyone a paper plate and tell them to paint the bottom of the plate black using the black paint. This will represent space.
- Give everyone a pot of white paint and a thick paintbrush. Give everyone a small amount of water to thin out the white paint.
- Dip the paintbrush into the white paint and gently flick the white paint onto the black paper plate, covering the whole plate with white splattered paints dots. These represent the stars in the solar system.
- Put the plate aside for the paint to dry.
- Give each group a few pieces of white and grey chalk sticks, a paper plate and a plastic knife. Using the plastic knife, they need to scrape apart the chalk into different sized pieces and put them on to the paper plate.
- Now give everyone the planets template and get them to colour them in and then cut them out.
- The black painted paper plate should be reasonably dry by now.
- Spread craft glue in a circular shape 2cm from the edge of the plate.
- Stick pieces of the broken chalk on the glue parts on the plate and also stick sand on it as well. This is your asteroid belt.
- Finally stick the Sun in the centre of the plate, then stick Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars inside the asteroid belt. Stick Jupiter on to the outer part of the asteroid belt on your paper plate. Set it aside to dry. Your asteroid belt art is now complete.
Reflection
This activity was all about asteroids, meteors, meteoroids and comets. Everyone made their own asteroid belt. Which part of today's activity did you like the best?
Safety
All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.
You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.
- Scissors
Supervise young people appropriately when they’re using scissors. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.
- Sharp objects
Teach young people how to use sharp objects safely. Supervise them appropriately throughout. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.
- Glue and solvents
Always supervise young people appropriately when they’re using glue and solvent products. Make sure there’s plenty of ventilation. Be aware of any medical conditions that could be affected by glue or solvent use and make adjustments as needed.
Make it accessible
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
