Role of Small Solar System Bodies

This advanced informational worksheet supports students in Grades 5, 6, and 7 as they develop scientific literacy, reading comprehension, and critical thinking through the study of asteroids, comets, and meteoroids. By engaging with a complex nonfiction passage, learners analyze composition, origins, research missions, and scientific theories about planetary formation and the possible beginnings of life, strengthening their ability to interpret and synthesize scientific texts.

Instructional Objectives

• Planetary Systems & Small-Body Dynamics (Grades 5-7)
  Students examine how asteroids, comets, and meteoroids influence planetary science and solar system models.
• Analysis of Complex Informational Texts
  Learners practice reading and interpreting dense scientific passages with multiple ideas across paragraphs.
• Synthesis and Higher-Order Thinking
  Students connect information from different sections of the text to draw conclusions and explain significance.
• Science Literacy & Real-World Research
  The worksheet highlights NASA missions and current research to show how scientists study small solar system bodies.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created and Standards-Aligned
  Designed by educators to support upper-elementary and middle school science and ELA standards.
• Cross-Curricular Skill Building
  Integrates astronomy content with reading comprehension and analytical reasoning.
• Promotes Deeper Scientific Thinking
  Encourages evaluation of evidence and understanding of how space objects relate to Earth’s development.
• Flexible Classroom and Homeschool Use
  Suitable for science units, literacy blocks, enrichment work, or assessment activities.

This printable worksheet helps students strengthen comprehension of complex scientific texts while deepening understanding of planetary science and astronomy. By analyzing the role of small solar system bodies in research and theory, learners build confidence in synthesizing information, evaluating scientific ideas, and connecting reading skills to real-world science. Ideal for both classroom and homeschool settings, this resource supports meaningful, higher-level learning across disciplines.

This worksheet is part of our Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors collection.