Howardites

The answer sheet for the worksheet Looking after meteorites, and staying safe. Each answer comes with the reason, so it can be used to mark or to go over the questions with the class.

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Start here: Beginner · Ages 7 and upAnswer sheet for teachers

Answers: Looking after meteorites, and staying safe

  1. A: A fresh fall picked up in a clean bagA meteorite touched as little as possible keeps the tiny traces of chemicals it carries from space.
  2. B: No, keep it dry and do not scrub itKeep it dry and do not wash or scrub it, so its traces of space chemicals are not spoiled.
  3. C: Meteorite laws differ from country to countryDifferent countries have different laws: in some, meteorites belong to the landowner, in others to the government.
  4. B: Shiny metal specks and tiny round chondrulesMetal specks and chondrules are inside the stone, so they show on a cut face; crust and dents are on the outside.
  5. True (Wash your hands after handling rocks from outdoors)Always wash your hands after handling outdoor rocks, and never taste, crush or heat them.
  6. True (The date you found it)Write down exactly where you found the rock, and the date.
  7. Yes, they are not harmfully radioactive (accept any answer with the same meaning)Meteorites are not radioactive in any harmful way, so they are safe to look at and hold.
  8. With gloves or a clean plastic bag (accept any answer with the same meaning)Gloves or a clean plastic bag keep skin and dirt off the rock.

Task

Answers will vary. The task comes from the lesson: Make a meteorite finder's kit: a notebook, a pencil, a ruler, a clean plastic bag and a fridge magnet on a string. Next time you visit a museum, use your notebook to sketch a meteorite you see there.

Look for work that uses the key words correctly and gives a reason for each point.

Howardites · teacher copy: keep it separate from the pupil worksheets