Publisher Description

Have you ever wished on a shooting star? Shooting stars often appear when the earth passes through the dust and debris left by a passing comet. Explore Comets and Asteroids! With 25 Amazing Projects takes readers ages 7 to 10 on a fantastic journey through space, where they investigate comets, asteroids, and lesser-known space wonders through 25 experiments and activities designed for curious kids.
Readers learn about everything from the first asteroid discovered to many current spacecraft missions. They also investigate famous comets, such Halley's comet, which returns faithfully every 75 or 76 years.
Learning about comets and asteroids means asking lots of questions. Could we live and work on asteroids? Why do we only occasionally see comets? Kids find the answers and more through hands-on projects and experiments that encourage them to be curious about how and why things work. Activities range from mapping the positions of celestial objects to designing spacecraft for asteroid missions. By combining science with activities, fun facts, and cartoons, kids will investigate, create, design, test, and redesign. Explore Comets and Asteroids! inspires kids to want to know more about how these rocky worlds formed and how they may have shaped life on Earth.

Author Biography

Anita Yasuda is the author of more than 100 books for children and adults, including Explore Simple Machines!, Explore Native American Cultures!, and Astronomy: Cool Women in Space for Nomad Press. She is a member of the Society of Children's Books Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP). Anita lives in Huntington Beach, California.

Bryan Stone is a cartoonist and the illustrator of several books for Nomad Press including Explore Night Science!, Explore Flight!, Explore Rivers and Ponds!, Explore Rocks and Minerals!, Explore Electricity!, and Explore Honey Bees!. He lives in West Fairlee, Vermont.

Table of Contents

•Timeline
•Solar System Map
• Introduction: Let's Explore Comets and Asteroids!
Good Science Practices
Be a Sky Watcher
Science Scroll
Quadrant
•Chapter 1: All About Asteroids
Trojan Asteroids
The Force Is With You
Asteroid Cookies
•Chapter 2: Investigating Asteroids
Asteroid Model
Refracting Telescope
Topographic Map
Asteroids and Light
•Chapter 3: Minerals, Mining, and Asteroids
Understanding Color
Asteroid Samples
Asteroid Miner
•Chapter 4: Curious About Comets
Exploring Comet Orbits
Make Your Own Comet
Experiment With Landers
Create a Myth
•Chapter 5: Cool Comets
Time Travel
Solar Wind
Write Space Tweets
•Chapter 6: Mysterious Meteors
Watch the Perseids
Make Meteor Craters
Friction
Glossary Game
Glossary
Metric Conversions
Resources
Essential Questions
Index

Review

Praise for other books by Anita Yasuda:

Explore the Solar System!
National Science Teachers Association Recommends
"This is a great book to entice young readers to read more and learn a little science along the way. It would make an attractive addition to a school library."

Forensics: Cool Women Who Investigate
Archimedes Notebook
". . . This is the perfect book for a young woman headed to college with an interest in sciences, but not quite sure what she wants to do."

Booklist Online Exclusive
"High-interest content coupled with relatable role models make this a quality career and occupational resource."

Astronomy: Cool Women in Space
Featured in Publisher's Weekly-Tracking Trends in the Educational Space

Booklist New SERIES NONFICTION SHOWCASE
"A worthy addition to STEM collections."

Explore Natural Resources
Children's Literature Review
"An informative book for early readers, sections cover the air, water, soil, minerals, energy, and conservation."

Praise for other titles in the series:

Explore Honey Bees! With 25 Great Projects
School Library Journal
"Featuring well-organized chapters and colorful illustrations, this title sheds light on bee anatomy, social structure, life cycle, products, and more. Readers will gain a greater respect for these insects and an appreciation for their importance to humans. . . Younger students will appreciate the images and accessible directions, while the vocabulary and content are challenging enough for older readers. A solid text that lends itself well to classroom use as well as to individual research."

Explore Gravity! With 25 Great Projects
National Science Teachers Association
"Are you looking for projects about gravity that are equally interactive as well as instructive? Explore Gravity! is sure to be one of the more popular science books in your class."

Explore Night Science! With 25 Great Projects
School Library Journal
"This one will be worth staying up past bedtime for."

Long Description

Have you ever wished on a shooting star? Shooting stars often appear when the earth passes through the dust and debris left by a passing comet. Explore Comets and Asteroids! With 25 Amazing Projects takes readers ages 7 to 10 on a fantastic journey through space, where they investigate comets, asteroids, and lesser-known space wonders through 25 experiments and activities designed for curious kids. Readers learn about everything from the first asteroid discovered to many current spacecraft missions. They also investigate famous comets, such Halley's comet, which returns faithfully every 75 or 76 years. Learning about comets and asteroids means asking lots of questions. Could we live and work on asteroids? Why do we only occasionally see comets? Kids find the answers and more through hands-on projects and experiments that encourage them to be curious about how and why things work. Activities range from mapping the positions of celestial objects to designing spacecraft for asteroid missions. By combining science with activities, fun facts, and cartoons, kids will investigate, create, design, test, and redesign. Explore Comets and Asteroids! inspires kids to want to know more about how these rocky worlds formed and how they may have shaped life on Earth.

Review Quote

Praise for other books by Anita Yasuda: Explore the Solar System! National Science Teachers Association Recommends "This is a great book to entice young readers to read more and learn a little science along the way. It would make an attractive addition to a school library." Forensics:

Details