Rocks, Soils & Surfaces
Rocks, Soils & Surfaces
Activity Overview
This activity is designed to introduce students to rocks, "soils", and surfaces on planetary worlds, through the exploration of lunar samples collected by Apollo astronauts and the study of the most dominant geologic process across the Solar System, the impact process.
Students will gain an understanding of how the study of samples and impact craters can improve our understanding of the history of the Moon, Earth, and Solar System.
Additionally, this activity will enable students to gain experience with scientific practices and the nature of science as they model skills used by professional scientists.
Activity Scope
• Grades 5-12+ • Ages 10-17+ • Full Activity 3+ Hours
• Adaptations for Informal Use < 1 hour
• Adaptations for Informal Use < 1 hour
Relevant Topics
Geologic processes, Moon
Adaptations for Informal Use
If using this activity or activity resources as part of an informal learning environment consider the following adaptations each of which can be completed in ~15-30+ minutes:
- Create a Model Surface of the Moon: Have your audience observe images of the lunar surface and recreate those surfaces using modeling clay or Play-Doh, along with sculpting tools (pencil, popsicle sticks, toothpicks, round objects of varying sizes) to create their model(s). [Print the Lunar Surface Feature Images and refer to pages 5-7 of the Student Guide; pages 7-9 of the Teacher Guide.]
- Regolith Formation Activity: Have your audience use light and dark graham crackers, a plastic tub, an actual rock and safety glasses to simulate creating lunar regolith. [Refer to pages 13 - 15 of the Student Guide; pages 12 - 13 of the Teacher Guide.]
- Impact Experiments: Have your audience take a closer look at impact craters through experiments. Feel free to use variations of impact boxes you may already be familiar with and/or use the instructions and student sheets provided as part of this activity. [Refer to pages 17 - 22 of the Student Guide; pages 15 - 18 of the Teacher Guide.]
These are a few adaptations you may consider using with your audiences. There are likely many other ways to utilize the resources included as part of this activity. Feel free to made additional adaptations as necessary to fit the needs of your learning environment.
Participants using printed and cut up resources to complete the "Lunar Geologic Practice" part of this activity
- Lunar Geologist Practice: Review the summary information about the three classifications of lunar rocks and their characteristics and then have your audience classify the lunar samples provided for this activity. [Print & cut Lunar Rock Classification Summary and Lunar Geologic Practice images and refer to pages 8 - 10 of the Student Guide; pages 9 - 11 of the Teacher Guide.]
Additional Resources
Lunar Surface Feature Images
PDF • 632 KB
Lunar Geologist Practice Images
Full Page
Full Page
PDF • 592 KB
Lunar Geologist Practice Images
Activity Cards
Activity Cards
PDF • 609 KB
Lunar Rock Classification Summary
PDF • 240 KB
Earth Impact Database
PDF • 281 KB
Earth Map
PDF • 138 KB
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