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ScienceMath

Moon-Crater Investigators

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Grades K-230-45 minSource: Creative Dad Company

Kids drop objects into a flour tray to see how size and height change the craters they leave behind. It's a satisfyingly messy way to explore what shapes the surface of the moon.

Budget levels

Materials list coming soon to members

Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change. As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick Start

Digital downloads only. $0 to buy. Printing is noted separately.

Materials list coming soon.

Student time: one class period, one day.

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one class period on a single day.

Scale back: Fit it into a shorter period, use fewer effects, or run a demo instead of a build.

Scale up: Add one extra effect, or spread the share-out across another day.

Ambiance video

Ambiance video coming soon from Creative Dad Studio

Full Experience

Up to $25 per class (class of about 30, 6 groups).

Materials list coming soon.

Student time: one day.

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one school day.

Scale back: Fit the build into one period with fewer effects.

Scale up: Spread the work across days, or add more effects.

Total Transformation

The bigger kit, priced per class (class of about 30, 6 groups).

Materials list coming soon.

Student time: one day (one session, one-day event).

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one session, a one-day event.

Scale back: Shorten the event, or run a demo for a smaller audience.

Scale up: Spread the build and the event across days, or invite a bigger audience.

Choose your version

Every level teaches the same core idea — pick the one that fits your time, budget, and energy today.

Student time: 35 min, one class periodTeacher prep / build-ahead: 9 min$0 to buy. Printing noted separately.One table or clear floor areaBeginner-friendly

Setup

Gather only common or recycled items needed to drop different objects from different heights into the flour tray, marking each spot. Place the materials beside a simple recording sheet or blank paper, and prepare the Moon-Crater Investigators challenge in one working area; no digital device is needed.

Activity

  1. Predict how the size of an object and the height it's dropped from will change the crater it makes.
  2. Drop different objects from different heights into the flour tray, marking each spot.
  3. Measure the craters and discover the results don't quite match the prediction, then retest by changing just one variable.
  4. Present a crater-size chart explaining what causes bigger or smaller craters on the moon.

Ambiance video

Ambiance video coming soon from Creative Dad Studio

Done when: The learner completes Moon-Crater Investigators after carrying out this core test: Measure the craters and discover the results don't quite match the prediction, then retest by changing just one variable. The learner then uses that result to complete the final task: Present a crater-size chart explaining what causes bigger or smaller craters on the moon.

Materials

Flour or sand in a tray, marbles or rocks of different sizes, a ruler, a flashlight

Shown for the Quick Start version — switch tabs above to see what changes.

Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change.

As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases.

Steps

  1. Predict how the size of an object and the height it's dropped from will change the crater it makes.
  2. Drop different objects from different heights into the flour tray, marking each spot.
  3. Measure the craters and discover the results don't quite match the prediction, then retest by changing just one variable.
  4. Present a crater-size chart explaining what causes bigger or smaller craters on the moon.

Standards mapped

  • NGSS · 2-ESS1-1

    Use information from several sources to provide evidence that Earth events can occur quickly or slowly.