We can look at the moon at night and from a telescope and wonder many things about its existence and unique features. There is lots for us to still learn about the moon, but one thing we know and understand a lot about are moon craters. This moon crater experiment for young children helps explain the marks on the moon in a way kids can understand.
We can tell children about the marks, or depressions on the moon, but it’s even better when we can show them. This experiment is quick, easy and a great way to get children interested in science and astronomy.
Try the experiment during carpet time with young children, or create the craters at home with your children. However you do the experiment, children will get the chance to see clearly how craters are formed.
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One of my favourite things about teaching kindergarten, and having an inquiry based program where I live, is the amount that I continue to learn every year. When children show an interest in something, such as space, it guides my programming.
Each new inquiry brings new questions and things the kids wonder. I love that my job is to help them understand their world and help to answer some of their questions.
This moon crater experiment came as children in my class wanted to learn about the moon. When looking at pictures some children wondered why it looked like there were ‘holes’ on the surface. This experiment helps to explain!
Moon Crater Experiment Materials
I love finding science experiments that only require a few, simple, household materials. This moon crater experiment provides a great visual for children to see how craters are created on the moon. You will need:
- A Tray (Cookie sheet works well)
- Flour or Corn Starch
- Coco Powder
- Marbles (Different Sizes are Best)
- Towel
- Sifter
You can choose to prepare the tray with the flour ahead of time, but you can also fill the tray with the children present.
Moon STEM Activity
Start the experiment by covering the area with towels. It does get messy, but that’s half the fun!
If you are able to do the experiment outside, it can work well outside, and it helps make clean-up easier. After covering the area, fill a cookie sheet/tray with flour. Corn starch will also work, so use whatever you have on hand. Do not pack the powder down. You can shake the tray a bit to even out the flour on the tray, but leave it loose.
Next, sprinkle a thin layer of coco powder over the corn starch. The thicker the layer of corn starch, the better. This represents the “lunar soil” or moon soil.
Once children understand that the powder and flour represent the surface of the moon, you’re ready to drop the marbles.
Next, start dropping a small marble onto the tray, from roughly 30 centimeters high. The marbles represent asteroids and meteorites. Once dropped the white corn starch will explode all over. The white flour will blow, or explode up and onto the brown coco. This represents the impact a meteorite/asteroid has when it hits the surface.
You can remove the marble to see the full impact. Upon collision, children will quickly see how a crater is made.
Drop several marbles to see the marks made. I let a few kids try out some larger marbles and even stones. You can also change the height that you drop each marble from. Ask children if dropping a small, or large marble from a high height makes a larger impression in the ‘soil’?
Moon Crater Experiment Results
As you drop the marbles, children will begin to see all of the impressions left from the marbles. Discuss the similarities between the marks on the tray and the marks on the moon. Does the marble size, and even the speed in which it is dropped, make a difference?
Some children may notice when a marble bounces or rolls that it make a different marking. We looked at pictures of actual craters on the moon and children now understood how they were likely created.
Although this activity works well with a whole class; small groups would give everyone a chance to experiment and create a few craters on their own.
Overall, it this activity is a lot of fun and a perfect hands-on activity to learn about the surface of the moon. Kids will love the explosion every time a crater hits the surface.
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