Crater Catapults and Moon Science STEM
Launch into a deep study of space rocks, the lunar surface, and craters that is sure to leave a lasting impact! In this comprehensive lesson, students use what they learn about meteors and craters to build a catapult that launches “research equipment” into craters. Worksheets are included to guide students through the engineering design process.
Grades: Kindergarten - 8th
Teaching Duration: 4 hours
“I used this during a summer program as a STEM challenge and our students had a BLAST working to problem solve and create their catapults! Highly engaging!”
Lesson overview
Launch into a deep study of space rocks, the lunar surface, and craters that is sure to leave a lasting impact! In this comprehensive lesson, students use what they learn about meteors and craters to build a catapult that launches “research equipment” into craters. Worksheets are included to guide students through the engineering design process. Then, students create their own satellite with craters like our own Moon. Explanations of the types of craters, crater parts, most famous Earth craters, how they are formed and destroyed, and the different kinds of rocks that originate from outer space are included!
This is a great opportunity to incorporate current events with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing happening on July 20, 2019, and NASA targeting a 2024 mission to return to the Moon! This engaging STEM challenge is a fun way to incorporate the engineering design process into your classroom or afterschool program!
This packet includes:
Detailed teachers guide with links to resources
Student handouts to guide them through the design process
Student recording sheet for each step of the process
Student worksheets to check comprehension of space rocks and crater knowledge
Answer key for all student worksheets
