Planets

Introduction

Soaring through the solar system. The trip of a lifetime. Could it be done in your life span? What would be needed? Can we figure speed and distance?

top

Task

We will be gathering facts, information, and pictures to help us decide if we could live on other planets. We will need an individual to research and locate pictures that would help us in determining the structure of each planet. We need an individual to calculate the distance and amount of time needed to reach each planet. We will need an individual to research materials needed for survival. These three individuals will work together as a team to determine their final grade.

top

Process

I. Students will form a hypotheses on whether or not life can be sustained on other planets. (11.A.3a)

II. The photo researcher will collect three pictures of each planet. These will be used in the final project. http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/saturn.html (11.B.3c)

III. The mathematical researcher will collect and record the appropriate data to find the distance and amount of time needed to reach each planet. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/ (11.A.3c)

IV. The third member of your team will gather information on equipment needed for survival. http://www.curtin.edu.au/mirror/planets/ (11.A.3c)

V. Can the team survive if there is a miscalculation in fuel? (11.A.3d)

VI. The following choices can be used to conclude the project. (11.A.3g)

A. The team can present an oral report

on their findings.

This would include posters, graphs

and the actual report itself.

B. The team can do a PowerPoint

presentation which will include

pictures, graphs and all

information important to the

project.

C. The team can do a model of the

solar system, graphs, and an oral

report.

top

Evaluation

Group Planning -- Research Project: Planets

Teacher name: Mr. Austin

Student Name ___________________

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Ideas/Research Questions	Researchers independently identify at least 4 reasonable, insightful, creative ideas/questions to pursue when doing the research.	Researchers independently identify at least 4 reasonable ideas/questions to pursue when doing the research.	Researchers identify, with some adult help, at least 4 reasonable ideas/questions to pursue when doing the research.	Researchers identify, with considerable adult help, 4 reasonable ideas/questions to pursue when doing the research.
Group Timeline	Group independently develops a reasonable, complete timeline describing when different parts of the work (e.g.,planning, research, first draft, final draft) will be done. All students in group can independently describe the high points of the timeline.	Group independently develops a timeline describing when most parts of the work will be done. All students in group can independently describe the high points of the timeline.	Group independently develops a timeline describing when most parts of the work will be done. Most students can independently describe the high points of the timeline.	Group needs adult help to develop a timeline AND/OR several students in the group cannot independently describe the high points of the timeline.
Delegation of Responsibility	Each student in the group can clearly explain what information is needed by the group, what information s/he is responsible for locating, and when the information is needed.	Each student in the group can clearly explain what information s/he is responsible for locating.	Each student in the group can, with minimal prompting from peers, clearly explain what information s/he is responsible for locating.	One or more students in the group cannot clearly explain what information they are responsible for locating.
Plan for Organizing Information	Students have developed a clear plan for organizing the information as it is gathered and in the final research product. All students can independently explain the planned organization of the research findings.	Students have developed a clear plan for organizing the information in the final research product. All students can independently explain this plan.	Students have developed a clear plan for organizing the information as it is gathered. All students can independently explain most of this plan.	Students have no clear plan for organizing the information AND/OR students in the group cannot explain their organizational plan.
Quality of Sources	Researchers independently locate at least 2 reliable, interesting information sources for EACH of their ideas or questions.	Researchers independently locate at least 2 reliable information sources for EACH of their ideas or questions.	Researchers, with some adult help, locate at least 2 reliable information sources for EACH of their ideas or questions.	Researchers, with extensive adult help, locate at least 2 reliable information sources for EACH of their ideas or questions.

Date Created: 2002-06-11

top

Conclusion

Great! You have completed your project. I hope you have enjoyed learning more about the planets. Would you like to travel in space?

What would it take for you to become an astronaut? What would it take for you to become a NASA scientist? If you find space interesting astronomy might be the thing for you. If nothing else remember the following: My Very Excellent Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas

Mercury-Venus-Earth-Mars-Jupiter-Saturn-Uranus-Neptune-Pluto

top

Teacher Notes

The number of computers needed would depend on the amount of time allotted your class for computers and class size. The teacher needs to divide the students into groups of three. This WebQuest would be tied into a unit on the solar system. This WebQuest is very basic since it is a first attempt. Hopefully after presenting this WebQuest I will be able to provide more insight.

top