Download The Perseid Meteor Shower

The Perseid
Meteor Shower
July 31, 2001
presented by ThursdaysClassroom.com
Thursday's
Classroom
Corner
KID'S STORIES: 3rd and 4th grade -- 5th to 8th grade -- 9th grade and older
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Do you know your comets from your meteors?: This vocabulary-building exercise will help students
remember the differences between meteors, meteoroids and comets. [lesson plan] [glossary] [activity
sheet: for older kids, for younger kids] [answer key: for older kids, for younger kids]
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Falling Star French Toast: This tasty snack will help wake you up when you want to watch Perseid
meteors in the middle of the night! [lesson plan] [activity sheet: for older kids, for younger kids]
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Sky Orienteering: This simple lesson introduces kids to the cardinal
directions around their house so they'll know how to find the Perseids radiant.
[lesson plan]
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Sky Watch Preparations: If you're planning to watch the Perseids, you need
to get organized. Otherwise you might forget your hot cocoa and French
Toast! [lesson plan] [activity sheet]
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Meteor Coloring Book: Kids will enjoy coloring these pieces of original
meteor art by Duane Hilton! [coloring book: html or pdf]
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Meteor Main Ideas: This lesson is traditional, but effective. Students will list details and write the main
ideas for four brief paragraphs about comets and meteor showers. [lesson plan] [activity sheet]
Use this button to download the story with lessons and activities
in printer-friendly Adobe PDF format:
Catch a Falling Star
Words To Know: Meteor, Meteoroid, Atmosphere,
Perseus, Perseids
It is always exciting to see a falling star. A
beautiful bright light sweeps across the
sky. You point to where it was and stare at
the dark sky. You hope that you will see
another falling star.
What is a falling star? A falling star is not a star at all. It
is not even part of a star. Stars do not fall. Our Sun is a
star.
A falling star is a meteor. Meteors are streaks of light in
the sky. The bright light is caused by a small speck of
dust exploding into flame when it enters Earth's
atmosphere.
The dust comes from comets. These pieces of comet
dust are called meteoroids. Most meteoroids are
smaller than a grain of sand. The flash of light is called
a meteor. Meteors usually last only a second or two.
Sometimes, there are meteor showers. In a meteor
shower, lots of shooting stars seem to fall from one
area of the sky. These meteor showers happen when
the Earth travels through a stream of dust following a
comet.
Some people get comets and meteors mixed up. A
comet is very different from a meteor. A comet is bigger
and travels slowly across the sky. It takes many days
for a comet to leave our sky. A comet looks like a bright
ball with a long shiny tail. A comet is a ball of frozen
water, dust, and gas. It is like a giant, dirty snowball.
In August, we will pass through a stream of dust left
behind by a comet. When we fly through this space
dust, the meteors will seem to shoot out of a group of
stars called Perseus. Perseus is near the North Star.
This meteor shower is called the Perseids.
The Perseids meteor shower is famous. Every August
for the past two thousand years, there was a meteor
shower. Sometimes you can see as many as 100
falling stars in one hour. This year, the meteor shower
will begin on the evening of Saturday, August 11th and
will keep going after midnight until Sunday morning.
The falling stars in this shower are bright and have
long, colorful trails. Most years, the falling stars shoot
all night long. This year, the quarter Moon will be bright.
Even with a shiny moon, the meteor watching should
be great!
To watch the shower, you need to wake up in the
middle of the night. Before you go to bed on Saturday
night, ask your parents to wake you up after midnight -that's the best time to look. Put on all your warm
clothes. Take a sleeping bag and snacks. Lie down and
look up. Keep your eyes open. Maybe you will be lucky
and see a beautiful storm of shooting stars!
Catch a Falling Star
The sight of a falling star is always
exciting. The beautiful bright light
flashes through the dark night. You
stare at the dark space, hoping for
another one. This August you are in
luck. There will be a shower of falling
stars streaming from the northern Sky.
This shower of falling stars is called the
Perseids.
What is a falling star? A falling star is
not a star at all. It is not even a piece of a star. Stars are huge balls of
burning gas. Our Sun is a star. Stars are usually much bigger than our
planet and they do not fall out of the sky.
A falling star is really a meteor. Meteors are streaks of light in the sky that
we enjoy watching. Meteors happen when a small speck of dust explodes
into flame high in the air above us. Where do these specks of dust come
from? Comets!
Comets are surrounded by dust, much like the dust cloud surrounding
"Pigpen" in Charlie Brown comics. When the Earth passes close to the
orbit of a comet, bits of comet dust hit our atmosphere and become
meteors. This can happen even when the comet is far, far away, because
the comet leaves dust behind.
Astronomers call these pieces of comet dust "meteoroids." Most
meteoroids are smaller than a grain of sand. Meteoroids hit the Earth's
atmosphere at super high speed -- faster than 100,000 miles per hour.
The friction between the tiny meteoroid and the atmosphere creates a
brief streak of light that we recognize as a meteor or a "falling star."
Meteors usually last just a second or two.
Sometimes people get comets and meteors mixed up. A comet is different
from a meteor. Comets are balls of ice that orbit around the sun.
Sometimes comets are called "dirty snowballs" because they are icy and
mixed with bits of rock and dust. When comets come close to the warm
Sun some of the dusty ice changes into dusty gas. The gas and the dust
form a tail that we can see from Earth. Unlike meteors, which zip across
the sky in a few seconds, comets travel slowly across the night sky. You
would have to watch one for hours or days to see its movement.
Comets leave behind dust that causes meteors. When lots of meteors fall
one after another, we call it a "meteor shower."
A meteor shower is worth watching. Perseid meteor showers are known
for their regularity. Every year, around the 12th of August, people watch
the Perseids. These falling stars have been seen for almost 2000 years.
Every year, there is a good number of falling stars. It may be possible to
see as many as 100 falling stars in an hour!
The Perseid meteors are as bright as the stars in the Big Dipper and they
usually have long, colorful trails. It is a beautiful meteor shower! Most
years the shower begins around 10 p.m. and continues until dawn. This
year (2001) the bright quarter moon will lighten the sky. Even with the
shiny moon, the sky will be dark enough to see the meteors.
The comet that causes the Perseid meteor shower is called Comet
Swift-Tuttle. It is named after two American scientists who discovered the
comet in 1862. The scientists were not working together. They were each
looking through their own telescopes and saw the comet. Lewis Swift saw
it first and then, three days later, Horace Tuttle saw it. As the comet got
closer to Earth, it became so bright with a great long tail that everyone
could see it. Comet Swift-Tuttle is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) in
diameter. It takes 135 years to orbit our Sun and will not fly by Earth again
until the year 2126.
On August 12, Earth will fly through part of the dust tail of Comet
Swift-Tuttle. Comet Swift-Tuttle won't be nearby, but there will be lots of
space junk that melted off the comet a long time ago. When comets get
close to the sun, they warm up. The icy material melts. Tiny grains of dirt
which have been riding on the comet for four billion years fly off into space
to join a long stream of orbiting meteoroids. When the Earth hits this
stream of comet junk from Swift-Tuttle, meteors seem to shoot out of the
constellation Perseus. That's why this meteor shower is called the
Perseids.
The best way to watch shooting stars is with your eyes. Before you go to
bed on Saturday night, set your alarm. The best watching will be between
midnight (Saturday night) and dawn (Sunday morning). Dress warmly. Set
up a comfortable lounge chair with blankets and snacks or spread out a
blanket. Lie down and look up at the sky.
Before the Sun rises on Sunday, August 12th, you can join the millions of
humans who have enjoyed watching the Perseids. The heavens are a
black theater for an amazing display of silent fireworks. The thrill of
spotting meteor after meteor is wonderful. These brilliant streaks mark the
end of dust specks formed billions of years ago when our solar system
was young. It may be the beginning of a beautiful memory.
Anticipating the Perseids
The 2001 Perseid meteor shower peaks on August 12th. Will
it be an extraordinary sky show like last year -- or a moonlit
disappointment? Wake up early and find out.
Listen to this story via streaming audio, a downloadable file, or get help.
July 31, 2001: Summer nights and shooting stars. They're an
unbeatable combination. That's why northern sky watchers look
forward so to the annual Perseid meteor shower in August.
During the shower's peak, which happens this year on August
12th, dozens and sometimes hundreds of meteors shoot across
the sky every hour. Dark-sky observers who stay out all night
sometimes count more than a thousand!
The much-anticipated Perseids, as reliable as clockwork, rarely
fail to please. Around this time last year, however, enthusiasts
were bracing for something unusual: Perseid disappointment.
On the night of the shower's 2000 maximum, the Moon was to
be nearly Full. It would outshine all but the brightest shooting
stars.
Right: Jimmy Westlake captured this photo of a Perseid meteor
streaking through Northern Lights on Aug. 12, 2000. In the
foreground is Hahn's Peak, an extinct volcano in Colorado. [more]
Undaunted, sky watchers went outdoors in great numbers. Perhaps it was simply habit. After all, the
Perseids have been putting on their annual show for more than two thousand years. Veteran meteor
watchers call the shower "Old Faithful" and many figured it might be worth watching in spite of the
Moon's glare.
They were right. Indeed, it was a night that no sky watcher was likely to forget -ever!
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Just as hopeful observers were settling in for a long spell of meteor watching, the
sky erupted in color. A billion-ton cloud of electrified gas from the Sun (a
"coronal mass ejection") had crashed into Earth's magnetic field and ignited
widespread auroras. All across North America sheets of red and green and purple
light danced across the sky, stunning onlookers.
That's when the Perseids showed up.
"I couldn't believe my eyes," said an observer from Bishop, CA. Bright Perseid meteors, plentiful after
all, were streaking through seldom-seen Northern Lights. "The moonlight hardly mattered," he added.
It just goes to show, you never know what might happen during a night under the stars!
Above: Douglas Schmutz captured this image of a faint Perseid meteor (visible in the lower middle of an
enlarged image) and pink aurora borealis over Hamblin Valley, Utah. [more]
This year experts are again predicting a meager display of Perseids, and the reason sounds familiar. A
swollen quarter Moon, bright and shining, will rise at midnight on Sunday, August 12th. By dawn -- just
when the shower should be at its best -- the Moon will lie high in the sky. Bright moonlight will likely
reduce apparent meteor rates to no more than 20 or 30 per hour.
"That's still a wonderful meteor shower and I recommend trying to see it," says astronomy professor
George Lebo, a Summer Faculty Fellow at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. "No matter where
you live, the best time to watch will be between local midnight and dawn on Sunday morning, August
12th." (Local midnight means midnight in your time zone.)
"The Perseids are primarily a northern hemisphere shower," he added. Sky watchers south of the
equator won't see nearly as many shooting stars as their northern cousins.
Above: The sky as seen by an observer at mid-Northern latitudes looking east at 4:00 am local time on
August 12, 2001. The red dot denotes the Perseid radiant. Even if you don't see many meteors, the dazzling
trio of planets -- Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn -- will make the trip outside worthwhile.
Watching for Perseids is easy. Simply find a dark observing site, away from city lights if possible, and
look up toward an unobstructed part of the sky. Meteors will streak overhead. If you trace their tails
backwards, most will lead to the constellation Perseus, which contains a point in the sky called "the
Perseid radiant."
The Perseid radiant lies near the northeastern horizon at midnight, but it will climb higher as the night
wears on. By dawn it will lie about 70 degrees above the northeastern horizon. The Moon -- bright and
beautiful, but a real nuisance -- will be in the neighboring constellation Taurus. Like an unwanted guest,
the Moon will follow Perseus as it ascends the night sky.
"Don't look in the direction of the Moon," advises
Lebo. Instead, face somewhat away from the Perseid
radiant with the Moon at your back. Perseid meteors
travel far across the sky, so you won't need to look
directly toward Perseus to see them. An old meteor
watcher's trick is to view a moonlit shower from the
shadow of a tall building. The building will block
some of the sky, but it will also reduce the Moon's
glare.
Above: A colorful Perseid meteor. Credit & Copyright: S.
Kohle & B. Koch
Typical Perseid meteors are about as bright as the stars in the Big Dipper -- and many are considerably
brighter. If you stay out all night on August 12th, don't be surprised to see several colorful fireballs
rivaling the brilliant planet Venus. Such meteors can be seen even from urban areas with light pollution.
Every Perseid meteor that you spot this month is a tiny piece of periodic comet Swift-Tuttle. The comet
swings by the Sun at 135 year intervals and leaves behind a trail of dusty debris. Its dust particles strike
Earth's atmosphere traveling 59 km/s (132,000 mph). Their extreme speed is the reason that tiny comet
particles, most no larger than grains of sand, can produce such dazzling streaks of light. Typical dust
specks burn up entirely about 100 km above our planet's surface.
Left: Tiny comet flakes like this are at the heart of fiery-looking Perseid
meteors. This one is only 10 microns across. [more information]
Earth entered the outskirts of Swift-Tuttle's debris stream in late July, and
already sky watchers are spotting 3 to 5 Perseids per hour in the predawn
sky. Meteor rates will gently climb in the days ahead as Earth approaches
the heart of the debris stream. Sometime on August 12th we'll encounter a
concentrated filament of comet dust and meteor rates will soar. The
shower that everyone has been waiting for will finally be underway.
But will it be worth the wait? Will the 2001 Perseids rival last year's extraordinary show? Or will the
Perseids, out of character, disappoint? The best way to find out is to be outdoors that Sunday morning
and see for yourself!
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Editor's note: On July 23, 2001, a spectacular fireball streaked over the US east coast. It was not an
early-arriving Perseid meteor, but rather a small solitary asteroid that probably had nothing to do with comet
Swift-Tuttle.
Credits & Contacts
Author: Dr. Tony Phillips
Responsible NASA official: Ron Koczor
Production Editor: Dr. Tony Phillips
Curator: Bryan Walls
Media Relations: Steve Roy
The Science Directorate at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center sponsors the Science@NASA web sites.
The mission of Science@NASA is to help the public understand how exciting NASA research is and to
help NASA scientists fulfill their outreach responsibilities.
Web Links
The Extraordinary Geomagnetic Perseid Meteor Shower -- (Science@NASA) A geomagnetic storm
triggered dazzling auroras during the peak of the 2000 Perseid meteor shower.
North American Meteor Network Notes -- August 2001, includes information about the Perseid meteor
shower and the mythology of the constellation Perseus.
Right: Herman Mikuz (Crni Vrh Observatory, Slovenia) captured
this image of comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle in 1992 during its most
recent visit to the inner solar system. Bits of dust shed by
Swift-Tuttle are the source of the Perseid meteors. [more]
Perseus -- find out more about this constellation from the Peoria
Astronomical Society.
History of the Perseids -- trace the history of the Perseid meteor
shower from 36 AD to the present day, from Gary Kronk's Comet &
Meteors web site.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fireballs - If you spy a
Perseid fireball and want to learn more about such bright meteors, check out this site from the American
Meteor Society.
Join our growing list of subscribers - sign up for our express news delivery and you will receive a mail message every
time we post a new story!!!
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THE END
Teacher Lesson Plans
Do You Know Your Comets from Your Meteors?
Objective:
The student will classify phrases as describing meteors,
meteoroids, and comets.
Background:
Meteors are streaks of light in the sky caused by bits of comet
dust disintegrating in our atmosphere. Cometary dust particles
are called meteoroids. The streak of light is called a meteor.
Meteoroids are typically very small and light. They are smaller
than grains of sand and weigh even less. Comets are balls of
dirty mineral-laden ice that orbit the sun. They are about the size
of asteroids. When comets pass close to the sun, they begin to
evaporate and leave behind a trail of gas and dust. The dusty
trail, also called a meteoroid stream, also orbits the sun. When
the earth passes through a stream of meteoroids, we have a
meteor shower.
Materials:
The student will need a copy of the article (for younger kids or
older kids) and of the activity sheet (for younger kids or older
kids). There are also answer keys (for younger kids or older
kids). There is also a glossary.
Estimated Time:
This may take ten to twenty minutes.
Procedure:
1. Discuss the background information with the students. Before
reading the article, have students skim for descriptions of
meteors and descriptions of comets. If you have colored markers
or pencils, have the students underline all the information about
comets in red and the information about falling stars in yellow.
Otherwise, students can underline information about meteors
and circle information about comets.
2. Distribute the activity sheet. Read the directions. Do the first
two as a class. Have them complete the assignment individually
or in pairs.
3. Review their work.
4. Have them read the article.
Rationale:
Classifying helps students to gain skills in organizing information
as well as clarifying concepts. By doing this before the reading,
students will clarify their vocabulary so as to better understand
the reading.
Meteor Glossary
asteroid -- a rocky body orbiting the sun. Most asteroids are located in the
asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Asteroids are much smaller than
the Earth or the Moon. The largest one is called Ceres and it is about 933
kilometers across. The next largest are 2 Pallas, 4 Vesta and 10 Hygiea
which are between 400 and 525 km in diameter. All other known asteroids
are less than 340 km in diameter.
comet -- a ball of frozen rock and ice orbiting the sun. When comets
approach the sun, they begin to warm and melt. Evaporating gases and
dust that sputter off the surface of a comet create long tails that can
sometimes be seen from Earth. Comet dust forms a cloud of debris that
trails the comet in its orbit around the sun. When the Earth passes
through a stream of comet dust (also called a meteoroid stream) a meteor
shower can result. Comets are about the same size as the smaller
asteroids.
falling star -- a streak of light in the night sky caused by a speck of comet
or asteroidal dust burning up in Earth's atmosphere. A falling star is not a
star at all! (also known as a meteor or a "shooting star")
Leo -- a zodiacal constellation. The Leonid meteors in November appear
to come from the direction of this constellation.
Leonids -- meteors that shoot out of the constellation Leo every year
around November 18th. The Leonid meteors are caused by debris from
comet Tempel-Tuttle.
meteor -- a streak of light in the night sky caused by a speck of comet or
asteroidal dust burning up in Earth's atmosphere
meteorite -- a piece of comet or asteroid debris from space that does not
completely disintegrate in Earth's atmosphere. It survives passage
through the atmosphere and can be found as a (usually iron-rich) rock on
the ground.
meteoroid -- a piece of comet or asteroid debris from space that can burn
up in Earth's atmosphere to produce a meteor
meteor shower -- a period of meteor activity when 1 - 1000 meteors per
hour can be seen from Earth. Meteor showers usually take place when
the Earth passes through a stream of comet debris (also known as a
"meteoroid stream").
meteor storm -- a period of meteor activity when more than 1000 meteors
per hour can be seen from Earth. Meteor showers usually take place
when the Earth passes through a very dense stream of comet debris (also
known as a "meteoroid stream").
Perseids -- meteors that shoot out of the constellation Perseus every year
around August 12th. The Perseid meteors are caused by debris from
comet Swift-Tuttle.
Perseus -- a constellation not far from the North Star. The Perseid
meteors in August appear to come from the direction of this constellation.
radiant -- a point in the sky from which meteors appear to radiate. All
meteor showers have their own radiant. For example, the radiant of the
Leonid meteor shower is in the constellation Leo. That doesn't mean that
all Leonid meteors appear in Leo. They can be seen anywhere in the sky,
but if you trace them backwards to their origin, they all lead to Leo the
Lion.
shooting star -- a streak of light in the night sky caused by a speck of
comet or asteroidal dust burning up in Earth's atmosphere. A shooting star
is not a star at all! (also known as a meteor or a "falling star")
Swift-Tuttle -- a comet that orbits the sun once every 135 years. Debris
from this comet forms a meteoroid stream that causes the annual Perseid
meteor shower.
Tempel-Tuttle -- a comet that orbits the sun once every 33 years. Debris
from this comet forms a meteoroid stream that causes the annual Leonid
meteor shower.
Name : ___________
Date: ___________
Do You Know Your Comets from Your Meteors?
Let's See!
Directions: Some of the following words and phrases describe comets.
Some words and phrases describe meteors. Some words and phrases
describe meteoroids. Some describe more than one. Write "comets",
"meteors" and/or "meteoroids" by the appropriate words and phrases.
shooting stars
composed of minerals and ice
orbits sun
has a tail
speedy streak of light
usually weighs less than a grain of sand
hits the atmosphere faster than 100,000 miles per hour
falling stars
surface melts into gas and dust when gets close to sun
lasts a second or two
travels slowly across the night sky
may come in showers or storms
remains in the sky for many days or weeks
Name : ___________
Date: ___________
Do You Know Your Comets from Your Meteors?
Let's See!
Directions: Some of the following words and phrases
describe comets. Some words and phrases describe
meteors. Some words and phrases describe
meteoroids. Write "comets", "meteors" or "meteoroids"
by the matching words and phrases.
shooting stars
made of dust and ice
has a tail
speedy streak of light
smaller than a grain of sand
falling stars
lasts a second or two
travels slowly across the night sky
may come in showers or storms
remains in the sky for many days
Name : ___________
Date: ___________
Do You Know Your Comets from Your Meteors?
Let's See!
Directions: Some of the following words and phrases describe comets.
Some words and phrases describe meteors. Some words and phrases
describe meteoroids. Some describe more than one. Write "comets",
"meteors" and/or "meteoroids" by the appropriate words and phrases.
shooting stars (meteors)
composed of minerals and ice (comets)
orbits sun (comets, meteoroids)
has a tail (comets)
speedy streak of light (meteors)
usually weighs less than a grain of sand (meteoroids)
hits the atmosphere faster than 100,000 miles per hour
(meteoroids)
falling stars (meteors)
surface melts into gas and dust when gets close to sun (comets)
lasts a second or two (meteors)
travels slowly across the night sky (comets)
may come in showers or storms (meteors)
remains in the sky for many days or weeks (comets)
Teacher Lesson Plans
Falling Star French Toast
Objective:
The student will read and follow directions for making
star-shaped French Toast. This is an activity that doesn't teach
kids much about meteors, but it does strongly motivate them to
watch the shower.
Materials:
As with any cooking lesson, the magnitude of the
materials depends greatly on the number of students. A
classroom teacher would want at least two electric
frying pans, measuring cups, measuring spoons, and
one bowl per group. Each student will need one egg
and three slices of bread. Other ingredients call for
vanilla, milk, powdered sugar, and butter or cooking oil.
Refer to the student activity sheet for specific quantities.
Estimated Time: This will take a 40 minute period. There may be some
waiting time if you have an entire classroom taking turns cooking so plan
a related activity for these times.
Procedure:
1. Talk about good snacks for middle-of-the-night meteor
watching. Distribute the activity sheet (for younger kids or for
older kids)
2. Have students read the activity sheet individually. They will be
excited. Ask students to summarize different parts of the recipe.
3. Have students brainstorm a list of steps for preparing the
French Toast. Decide whether preparation will be as individuals,
pairs (the recipe would need to be doubled by the students), or in
small groups (I think that a group of more than four would be so
interesting that you would want to film it and then retire. Even
Home Ec teachers keep it to four in a group.) Review the
behavior standards.
4. Have students modify the recipes as needed.
5. Show students where the materials and ingredients are
located. Also plan a rotation at the cooking station and discuss
that with the students.
6. Have students prepare the stars and batter and then cook
them. As the students are cooking review the definition of a
meteor. They are not stars that fall from the sky!
7. After all students have cooked, pass out the powdered sugar
and let everyone eat.
8. Lead a discussion critiquing their cooking and what
modifications they would make at home.
Rationale:
Cooking is an intrinsically interesting activity that promotes motivation
for watching these late night falling stars.
Falling Star French Toast
This tasty snack can help wake you up when you want to watch Perseid
meteors in the middle of the night. First, read through the directions from
beginning to end. Then gather your materials and cook, cook, cook!
Falling Star Vital Equipment List:
1 bowl
1 frying pan
1 cookie cutter (star shaped) or knife
1 fork
1 spatula (flat pancake turner)
measuring cup
measuring spoons
Ingredients for Falling Star French Toast for one lonely meteor watcher:
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
3 slices of bread
oil for frying: either 2 tablespoons of butter or 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
2 tablespoons of powdered sugar
Scientific steps for creating Falling Star French Toast:
Step One: Use the cookie cutter or the knife to make one star from each
piece of bread. For the cookie cutter, press the cutter down on the bread
and carefully lift out the star. If you are using a knife, lightly draw a star
inside the crust. When it looks like a good star, cut it out. Pop Quiz: Is a
meteor really a star that falls out of the sky?
Step Two: Break the egg into the bowl. Add the milk and the vanilla. Beat
the mixture together.
Step Three: Dip each bread star in the egg mixture; coat both sides of
each star with the egg.
Step Four: Heat the butter or oil until it is melted and warm. Gently slide
your stars into the pan and fry them until they sizzle, about two minutes.
Lift one point of a star, if it is golden brown, turn your stars over and cook
the other side.
Step five: Sprinkle the powdered sugar on your French Stars. Let the
French Stars fall into your mouth!
Good News!
You can cook you French Falling Stars ahead of time and then eat them
as snacks while you watch the Perseid meteor shower. You can reheat
them or eat them cold. Either way, you want to wait and add the pretty
powdered sugar right before you eat them. That way, you can lick your
fingers as you look at the sky!
Falling Star French Toast
This tasty snack can help wake you up when you want
to watch meteors in the middle of the night. First, read
through the directions from beginning to end. Then
gather your materials and cook, cook, cook!
Falling Star Cook's Tool List:
1 bowl
1 frying pan
1 cookie cutter (star shaped) or knife
1 fork
1 spatula (flat pancake turner)
measuring cup
measuring spoons
Ingredients for Falling Star French Toast for one
person:
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
3 slices of bread
2 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of powdered sugar
Cooking Steps:
Step One: Use the cookie cutter or the knife to make
one star from each piece of bread. For the cookie
cutter, press the cutter down on the bread and carefully
lift out the star. If you are using a knife, lightly draw a
star inside the crust. When it looks like a good star, cut
it out. Give your teacher a test. Ask her if stars
really fall out of the sky! (No)
Step Two: Break the egg into the bowl. Pick out any
pieces of shell and wash your hands.Measure the milk
and the vanilla. Add the milk and the vanilla. Beat the
mixture together.
Step Three: Dip each bread star into the egg mixture;
coat both sides of each star with the egg.
Step Four: Heat the butter until it is melted. Gently
slide your stars into the pan and fry them until they
sizzle, about two minutes. Lift one point of a star, if it is
golden brown, turn your star over and cook the other
side.
Step five: Sprinkle the powdered sugar on your French
Stars. Let the French Stars fall into your mouth!
Good News!
You can cook you French Falling Stars ahead of time
and then eat them as snacks while you watch the
Perseid meteor shower. You can reheat them or eat
them cold. Either way, you want to wait and add the
pretty powdered sugar right before you eat them. That
way, you can lick your fingers as you look at the sky!
Teacher Lesson Plans
Sky Orienteering
Objective:
Students will become familiar with the cardinal directions as seen
from their school and home. They will learn where to look for
shooting stars during the Perseid meteor shower.
Materials:
A magnetic compass may be helpful but it is not necessary.
Estimated Time:
About one hour outside the classroom, and another 30 minutes
of classroom discussion.
Procedure:
1. Explain to students that Perseid meteors can appear
anywhere in the sky, but that their tails will point back toward a
point called the radiant. The radiant of the Perseid meteor
shower is located in the constellation Perseus, which is not very
far from the North Star. On your chalk board, you may wish to
draw a picture of the Big Dipper (which most parents and
teachers can find in the night sky without special instruction) and
show the kids how two of the stars in the Big Dipper point to the
North Star. (See a related lesson from the Aug. 3rd, 2000,
episode of Thursday's Classroom, "Connect the Dot
Constellations.")
2. Take your class outside into the playground or some other
open space. Point out the cardinal directions, North, South, East
and West. Note that the Sun rises in the East each morning and
sets in the West in the evening. If you have a compass show
them how to use it to find the cardinal directions. Point to the
northeast and explain that that's where Perseus will be near
dawn on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2001. The three brightest stars they
can see in that direction on Sunday morning aren't stars at all!
They are Jupiter, Venus & Saturn, as indicated in the skymap
below.
3. Give the students this homework assignment: Draw a picture
of your house and yard (or apartment building), nearby homes
and streets, and any local landmarks. Label North, South, East,
and West on the drawing. Label the direction northeast where
the constellation Perseus will be before dawn on August 12th. If
you plan to observe the Perseids from your home, show on the
drawing where you will sit and watch. Are there any trees or
other obstacles to a clear view of the sky? If so, pick a different
spot.
Rationale:
Basic direction finding is a new skill for most young students.
This activity will help them feel less confused on the night of the
meteor shower.
Teacher Lesson Plans
Sky Watch Preparations
Objective:
The student will list items to organize and tasks to be completed
before watching the Perseids.
Materials:
The student will need copies of the activity sheet and this week's
article. (Click to view the article for older students or the article
for younger students.)
Estimated Time:
Depending on the age and ability level of your students, the
activity will take ten to twenty minutes. The follow-up discussion
should take about ten minutes.
Procedure:
1. Have students look at their article. If they didn't already do this,
have them underline preparations that need to be done and
circle the objects that need to be gathered.
2. Distribute the activity sheet and read the directions.
3. Have students work individually or in pairs to create their lists.
4. Have a student read their list. Ask other students to add to it. If
a 'secretary' writes all these on the board or overhead, the
collated list will probably be very complete.
5. You can add pizazz to this lesson by bringing in your own sky
watch materials and stuffing them into a huge garbage bag as
students list them off.
Rationale:
Preparing in advance is an organizational skill that can be taught.
Being prepared also adds to the excitement and motivation of a
sky watch.
Name:__________
Date:__________
Sky Watch Preparations
Are you going to watch the Perseids? If you are, you need to be
organized. In the space below make one list of things that you need to do
before you go to bed -- like setting your alarm or asking your parent's
permission to go outside so early in the morning. Then make a list of stuff
that you need to get together the night before you go meteor observing.
Put these things in a huge garbage bag by the door. When your alarm
rings, wake up, dress up, grab that bag and head outdoors for a look at
the Perseids.
THINGS TO DO:
ITEMS TO COLLECT:
Meteor Coloring Book
presented by ThursdaysClassroom.com
Don't worry, this won't happen to you during the Perseid
meteor shower! Meteors are streaks of light caused by tiny
pieces of comet dust burning up in Earth's atmosphere. Hard
hats are not required!
Related Lesson: Do you know your comets from your
meteors?
Color the 29 kb gif or 28 kb pdf version of this image.
Perseid meteors are notable for their red, green, and blue
colors. What causes meteor colors? Click here to find out.
Color the 20 kb gif or 21 kb pdf version of this image.
Those streaks of light you see in the sky during a meteor
shower are fluffy bits of comet dust ("meteoroids") burning up
in our atmosphere. Your kids can color Duane Hilton's
rendition of a microscopic meteoroid, pictured here. You can
also see what the real thing looks like!
Color the 24 kb gif or 28 kb pdf version of this image.
Meteor watching is best done reclined in a comfortable chair
with a cup of hot cocoa at your side!
Related Lesson: Falling Star French Toast
Color the 11 kb gif or 15 kb pdf version of this image.
Meteor Coloring Book
presented by ThursdaysClassroom.com
Don't worry, this won't happen to you during the Perseid
meteor shower! Meteors are streaks of light caused by tiny
pieces of comet dust burning up in Earth's atmosphere. Hard
hats are not required!
Related Lesson: Do you know your comets from your
meteors?
Color the 29 kb gif or 28 kb pdf version of this image.
Perseid meteors are notable for their red, green, and blue
colors. What causes meteor colors? Click here to find out.
Color the 20 kb gif or 21 kb pdf version of this image.
Those streaks of light you see in the sky during a meteor
shower are fluffy bits of comet dust ("meteoroids") burning up
in our atmosphere. Your kids can color Duane Hilton's
rendition of a microscopic meteoroid, pictured here. You can
also see what the real thing looks like!
Color the 24 kb gif or 28 kb pdf version of this image.
Meteor watching is best done reclined in a comfortable chair
with a cup of hot cocoa at your side!
Related Lesson: Falling Star French Toast
Color the 11 kb gif or 15 kb pdf version of this image.
Teacher Lesson Plans
Do You Know Your Comets from Your Meteors?
Objective:
The student will classify phrases as describing meteors,
meteoroids, and comets.
Background:
Meteors are streaks of light in the sky caused by bits of comet
dust disintegrating in our atmosphere. Cometary dust particles
are called meteoroids. The streak of light is called a meteor.
Meteoroids are typically very small and light. They are smaller
than grains of sand and weigh even less. Comets are balls of
dirty mineral-laden ice that orbit the sun. They are about the size
of asteroids. When comets pass close to the sun, they begin to
evaporate and leave behind a trail of gas and dust. The dusty
trail, also called a meteoroid stream, also orbits the sun. When
the earth passes through a stream of meteoroids, we have a
meteor shower.
Materials:
The student will need a copy of the article (for younger kids or
older kids) and of the activity sheet (for younger kids or older
kids). There are also answer keys (for younger kids or older
kids). There is also a glossary.
Estimated Time:
This may take ten to twenty minutes.
Procedure:
1. Discuss the background information with the students. Before
reading the article, have students skim for descriptions of
meteors and descriptions of comets. If you have colored markers
or pencils, have the students underline all the information about
comets in red and the information about falling stars in yellow.
Otherwise, students can underline information about meteors
and circle information about comets.
2. Distribute the activity sheet. Read the directions. Do the first
two as a class. Have them complete the assignment individually
or in pairs.
3. Review their work.
4. Have them read the article.
Rationale:
Classifying helps students to gain skills in organizing information
as well as clarifying concepts. By doing this before the reading,
students will clarify their vocabulary so as to better understand
the reading.
Teacher Lesson Plans
Falling Star French Toast
Objective:
The student will read and follow directions for making
star-shaped French Toast. This is an activity that doesn't teach
kids much about meteors, but it does strongly motivate them to
watch the shower.
Materials:
As with any cooking lesson, the magnitude of the
materials depends greatly on the number of students. A
classroom teacher would want at least two electric
frying pans, measuring cups, measuring spoons, and
one bowl per group. Each student will need one egg
and three slices of bread. Other ingredients call for
vanilla, milk, powdered sugar, and butter or cooking oil.
Refer to the student activity sheet for specific quantities.
Estimated Time: This will take a 40 minute period. There may be some
waiting time if you have an entire classroom taking turns cooking so plan
a related activity for these times.
Procedure:
1. Talk about good snacks for middle-of-the-night meteor
watching. Distribute the activity sheet (for younger kids or for
older kids)
2. Have students read the activity sheet individually. They will be
excited. Ask students to summarize different parts of the recipe.
3. Have students brainstorm a list of steps for preparing the
French Toast. Decide whether preparation will be as individuals,
pairs (the recipe would need to be doubled by the students), or in
small groups (I think that a group of more than four would be so
interesting that you would want to film it and then retire. Even
Home Ec teachers keep it to four in a group.) Review the
behavior standards.
4. Have students modify the recipes as needed.
5. Show students where the materials and ingredients are
located. Also plan a rotation at the cooking station and discuss
that with the students.
6. Have students prepare the stars and batter and then cook
them. As the students are cooking review the definition of a
meteor. They are not stars that fall from the sky!
7. After all students have cooked, pass out the powdered sugar
and let everyone eat.
8. Lead a discussion critiquing their cooking and what
modifications they would make at home.
Rationale:
Cooking is an intrinsically interesting activity that promotes motivation
for watching these late night falling stars.
Teacher Lesson Plans
Meteor Main Ideas
Objective:
The student will list the details and write the main ideas
contained in four brief paragraphs.
Materials:
The student will need a copy of the activity sheet.
Estimated Time: This will probably take about ten minutes.
Procedure:
1. Distribute the activity sheet. Read the directions and complete
the first two paragraphs as a class.
2. Depending on the skill level of your class and their success
with the first two paragraphs, have students complete the second
pair of paragraphs independently or as a class.
3. Read and review the results.
Rationale:
Finding the main idea is a higher level comprehension skill that
needs to be taught in the content area.
Name: __________
Date: __________
Meteor Main Ideas
Directions: Read the paragraph and the list of details
and then write the main idea.
Every year tons of material fall to the
Earth from space. Most of this space
junk is smaller than a grain of sand.
Many pieces of space dust crash into
the earth at great speed. When the
dust grain hits the atmosphere of the
earth there is a flash of light as the
dust goes up in flames. If this
happens when it is dark, you can see
these tiny pieces of trash light up the
night.
Details:
1. Most space junk is tiny.
2. Space dust crashes into the
earth's atmosphere at great speed.
3. When the space dust arrives at
earth, a flash of flame lights up the
night.
Main idea:
_______________________________
Directions: List the details from the paragraph
and then list the main idea.
A falling star is not a star at all. It is
not even a piece of a star. Stars are
huge balls of burning gas sending off
great amounts of energy in the form
of light and heat. Our sun is a star.
Stars do not fall. A falling star is a
meteor. A meteor is usually the size
of a grain of sand but weighs less.
Details:
1.
____________________________________
2.
____________________________________
3.
____________________________________
Main idea:
_____________________________
Directions: Read the paragraph, list the
details, and then write the main idea.
In a meteor shower, many falling
stars seem to shoot from one area of
the sky. Sometimes there are 20
shooting stars in an hour and
sometimes there are more than 100
shooting stars in an hour. There are
so many that if you watch the sky
with a friend, you will both see them.
It is exciting to watch all these
meteors shoot through the dark sky.
Details:
1.
____________________________________
2.
____________________________________
3.
____________________________________
Main idea:
_____________________________
Directions: Read the paragraph, list the details
and then write the main idea.
What causes a meteor shower?
These showers are a result of the
earth traveling through a meteoroid
stream. Meteoroids are bits of dust
and dirt that melt off a comet. A
meteoroid stream is like a dust cloud
following the comet on its orbit
through the solar system. When the
Earth flies through a meteoroid
stream, thousands of dust specks
crash into our planet's atmosphere. It
makes a beautiful night of meteors.
Details:
1.
___________________________________
2.
___________________________________
3.
___________________________________
Main Idea:
____________________________