Cosmic Crash Slides Astronomy Lab
Cosmic Crash
How the Earth got its tilt and the Moon was born!
Warm-up: The Big Spin
Step 1: Straight Up
Try to spin your top so it stays perfectly straight. Does it stay that way for long?
Step 2: The Lean
Now, try to spin it while it's leaning over (tilted). What happens to the spin?
Discussion
What does it mean to be "tilted"?
Cosmic Discovery
Watch: 4:45 - 5:35
Embedded media
"How did the Earth get its tilt?"
Lab Activity: The Theia Impact
1
Make Your Planets
Roll a large Blue Earth and a smaller Red Theia . Push a toothpick through the center of Earth for its axis.
2
The Crash!
Slowly crash Theia into the side of Earth . Notice how the toothpick (axis) tilts!
3
Moon Debris
Collect the "dust" and broken pieces that flew off. Roll them into a small Moon !
The Big Question
How would Earth be different today if Theia had never crashed into it?
Seasons?
Night Sky?
Straight Axis?
Theia Impact Lab Report Theia Impact Lab
Cosmic Detective Report
NAME:
DATE:
1
The Early Earth
Draw Earth before it was hit. Use the toothpick to show how it was standing straight up.
What does "tilt" mean?
2
The Cosmic Crash
Draw the moment Theia crashed into Earth . Where did the dust and rocks go?
3
New Earth and Moon
Draw the Earth today. Don't forget the Tilt and the Moon !
Reflection
How would Earth be different if Theia never hit it?
Planetary Collision Guide Planetary Collision Guide
Teacher Facilitation Resource
GRADE
2
Objective
Students will simulate the Giant Impact Hypothesis to understand how Earth acquired its axial tilt and how the moon was formed from resulting debris.
Materials Needed
Blue Playdough (Earth)
Red Playdough (Theia)
Toothpicks (Axis)
Spinning Tops (Warm-up)
Lesson Timeline
05m
Spinning Warm-up
05m
SciShow Kids Video
20m
Theia Activity
05m
Reflection/Wrap-up
Instructional Steps
1
The Tilt Concept (Warm-up)
Give each pair of students a spinning top. Ask them to try spinning it perfectly vertical, then slightly tilted. Point out that Earth spins just like a top, but it isn't "standing up" straight.
PROMPT: "If Earth were a top, why would it be harder to live on if it kept falling over?"
2
Watch & Wonder
Play the SciShow Kids video from 4:45 to 5:35 . Ask students to listen for the name of the "baby planet" that caused the chaos.
3
The Impact Activity
Hand out materials. Guide students through the construction:
Earth: Blue clay, size of a tennis ball. Insert toothpick axis vertically.Theia: Red clay, size of a golf ball.The Crash: Instruct students to hit Earth from the side (not the top).Debris: Use the resulting red/blue mixture to form the moon.
Detective Notes (Teacher Tips)
Common Misconception
Students often think the moon was already there and just got "moved." Emphasize that the moon was made from the leftover bits of the crash.
Activity Support
If the toothpick breaks or falls out, explain that the axis is an "imaginary line," but our toothpick helps us see the lean more easily.
Lab Report Answer Key Teacher Key
Theia Impact Lab
Answer Key & Teacher Exemplar
1
The Early Earth
Exemplar: Straight Axis
What to look for:
Toothpick/Axis shown straight up and down .
Simple circle representing Earth.
Tilt Definition:
"Leaning to the side instead of standing up straight."
2
The Cosmic Crash
Exemplar: Side Impact
What to look for:
Theia (Red) hitting the side of Earth.
Lines or dots showing debris or rock clouds flying off.
3
New Earth and Moon
Exemplar: Tilted Axis + Moon
What to look for:
Toothpick/Axis shown at an angle .
A small Moon orbited nearby.
Ideal Reflection Response:
"Earth would be standing up straight. We would not have a moon in the sky. We might not have different seasons (like summer and winter) because the tilt is what makes the seasons happen."
