Young Space Explorers Moon Cratering Activity

INTRODUCTION:

This is designed as a group activity, but can be scaled down for a small number of children or one child.

The surface of the Moon is very easy to recognize because it has so many round "holes" on its surface. These holes are called craters. We know that craters are made when a large space rock hits the moon's surface. The craters we see on the Moon today were made billions of years ago, when the Moon and Earth were newly formed.

Here are some pictures of the Moon.

MATERIALS:

You will need:

1. inexpensive plastic swimming pool or other round container

2. about 30 pounds of flour

3. a piece of cardboard or other item with a rigid straight edge

4. large box of Nestle Quick or other chocolate drink mix

5. about 30 small (one inch) rocks, marbles, or hard plastic balls

6. large tarp or plastic to place under swimming pool

INSTRUCTIONS:

The "flour moon" may be prepared in advance. It should be protected by covering it with a sheet of plastic or tarp until you are ready to make craters.

1. Place the swimming pool on top of the tarp in an open location. The tarp is intended to catch any spilled flour, and there should be plenty of room for the children to stand around the pool at some distance (about 3 feet).

2. Fill the pool with the bags of flour. Use the cardboard to smooth out the flour until it is fairly even and smooth.

3. Sprinkle the Nestle Quick evenly over the entire surface of the flour "moon". The result should be a thin even coating of brown chocolate mix.

4. The children stand in a circle around the "moon". It is best to stand about 3 feet away so that everyone can see and have room to stand.

5. The leader first demonstrates how to make a crater. This helps to insure that the children drop the rocks or marbles carefully and don't throw them. The leader stands at the edge of the pool, extends his arm out high over the moon, and lets the rocks drop. The crater should be clearly visible since the white flour stands out from the chocolate drink mix.

6. The leader gives each child, one at a time, a rock to drop to make a crater. Each child in turn steps up to make his or her crater. No throwing!

7. Continue until each child has made a crater, or all rocks are used.

8. Observe that some craters are larger than others, some overlap, and some have rays of light colored material throw out from the centers. Ask if this resembles the moon.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

1. Do space rocks still hit the Moon?

2. How big were the space rocks that made the craters we see on the Moon?

3. What would happen if a space rock hit the Earth?

4. What if it hit the ocean?

5. Do space rocks hit the other planets and moons in our solar system?