Howardites

Worksheet for the lesson A safe home for a meteorite: choosing the best materials (Year 2). Printing gives the pupil copy; open the answers below first to print them as a teacher copy on a separate page.

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A safe home for a meteorite

Name:Date:

Test each material. Put a tick (✓) for yes and a cross (✗) for no.

MaterialChalk safe after the drop?Paper towel kept dry?Can you see through it?Squashes and springs back?
Paper
Cardboard
Foil
Fabric
Bubble wrap
Clear plastic
Draw your box for the meteorite. Label each material and write what job it does.
  1. Which material is best for a window in the lid? Why?
  2. Why must a meteorite be kept dry?
Answers for the teacher
  1. Typical results (yours may differ): paper ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗; cardboard ✗ or ✓ (thin card may not protect the chalk) ✗ ✗ ✗; foil ✗ ✓ (unless torn) ✗ ✗ (it stays squashed); fabric ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗; bubble wrap ✓ ✓ partly ✓; clear plastic ✗ ✓ ✓ ✗.
  2. A good box has a strong outside (card or plastic), something squashy inside (bubble wrap or cotton wool) and a clear plastic window.
  3. Clear plastic, because you can see through it and it keeps the water out.
  4. Water makes the iron inside many meteorites rust, which damages them.

Howardites · free to copy for use in your classroom