Howardites

A printable worksheet for the lesson What is a meteorite? (Start here: Beginner). It prints on A4 without the website around it. The answers are on a separate sheet for the teacher.

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Start here: Beginner · Ages 7 and upHowardites worksheet

What is a meteorite?

Name:Class:Date:

Key words

Meteorite
A meteorite is a piece of space rock that has survived its fall through the air and landed on Earth.
Planet
A planet is a large, round body orbiting a star that has cleared its path of most other material.
Asteroid
A rocky or metal-rich object, smaller than a planet, that goes around the Sun.
Meteoroid
A meteoroid is a small piece of rock or metal travelling through space.
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, a cold, rocky world with ancient river valleys; some meteorites come from it.

Choose the right answer

Circle the letter of the right answer.

  1. Why are many meteorites older than any rock on Earth's surface?
    • AThey have been lying on the ground for ages
    • BThey formed at the very start of the Solar System
    • CSpace stops rocks from ever wearing away
    • DSpace makes rocks grow older faster
  2. What makes a meteorite different from almost every other rock you have touched?
    • AIt is a real piece of another world
    • BIt was made in a factory
    • CIt is always very light
    • DIt is always made of gold
  3. Why does the air glow when a meteoroid plunges into it?
    • AThe rock is carrying fire from the Sun
    • BThe rock has a light inside it
    • CThe rock is going so fast that it makes the air glow
    • DThe air is lit up by the Moon
  4. Do most meteoroids ever come close to Earth?
    • AYes, they all hit Earth in the end
    • BNo, because the Moon catches them all
    • CNo, most never come anywhere near us
    • DYes, they all circle around Earth

True or false?

Is the answer given right? Tick True or False.

  1. Are shooting stars really stars?

    Answer given: Yes, they are stars that have burnt out TrueFalse

  2. You see a glowing streak race across the night sky. Which word is right for it?

    Answer given: A meteor TrueFalse

Write your answer

Answer in a word or a short sentence.

  1. Why is studying a meteorite a bit like reading a very old letter?
  2. Where do most meteorites come from?

Task

Make three cards with the words meteoroid, meteor and meteorite. On the back of each, draw where the rock is: in space, in the sky or on the ground. Then test a friend or someone at home.

Howardites · free to copy for use in your classroom · answers are on the separate teacher's answer sheet