Solar System Webquest

Introduction:

Your job is to collect data about your planet. Your crew of astronauts will work as a team to collect this scientific information. You will need to show your data sheet to Mission Control (Mrs. Marks) before blast off.
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Pre-flight requirements:

  • *Know your destination (planet)
  • *Name your mission and design a patch (badge)
Data Collection:
  • *Namesake (Who is your planet named after?)
  • *Distance from the Sun (How many kilometers?)
  • *Diameter (What is the distance across is your planet?)
  • *Period of revolution (How long is one year on your planet in Earth years?)
  • *Rotation period (One day on your planet equals how many hours/days on Earth?)
  • *Moons (How many? What are their names?)
  • *Atmosphere (What gases are in the atmosphere?)
  • *Temperature (How hot or cold is it?)
  • *Composition (What is your planet made of?)
  • *Other Interesting facts (Special features. Does it have volcanoes, craters, rings, valleys, etc..?)

Process:

Step 1:  Choose a planet.
  • Mrs. Marks will form your teams of 2  (9 planets (Pluto-Dwarf Planet) and 1 sun)
  • Choose a planet and tell Mrs. Marks immediately (there will be no repeat of planets)
  • Create a name for your mission.
  • Let Mission Headquarters (your teacher) know the name of your mission and the planet your team has chosen.
Step 2: Research your planet.
The Process
  1. *First, Mission Control (Mrs. Marks) will assign you to a crew. 
  2. *Contact Mission Control for your planet destination.
  3. *Design a patch for your mission. To learn how, click on the following link for directions on Creating a Crew Patch You each will make a crew patch and will wear it during your presentation. See Mrs. Marks for cardstock.
  4. *Print out each of the Data Collection Sheets.
  5. *Decide which data sheet each crew member will be responsible for completing with information about your planet destination. 
  6. *You are now ready to start collecting data. Remember, only make notes.
Step 3: Continue to do your research and fill in your data sheets.
Additional Research for your planet.
  • Print out the Planet Worksheet and read over with your team.
  • Begin researching your planet by clicking here or going to the Resources section (scroll down for this section). Click on the picture of your planet.
  • Look at the first website link and read carefully.
  • Write down the information your team finds.
  • Do the same for the other website links until you have found all the information you need.
Step 4: Use this information to make at least a 10 slide Power Point. Work on your Power Point together. Add a couple of pictures to your Power Point when finished with the text. Be ready to present your Power Point to the class together.

 
Step 5: Make a flight plan.
  • Look at your Planet Worksheet and reread the information you have written, including how long it would take to get to your planet. Click here or go the the Resource Section to see the pages on travel to your planet.
  • Discuss within your teams the following:
1. How long will the trip be?
2. What supplies will you need? (such as food, clothing, medicine, etc.)
3. Will you make any stops on your flight?
4. What will you do for entertainment?
5. What will you do when you reach your planet?
6. What would you need on your spaceship (rooms, equipment, etc.)?
  • Write out your flight plan.  It can be a paragraph, a list, a chart, or whatever your team decides.
  • Make a diagram/chart/model of what your spaceship will look on the outside and on the inside.  Make sure to label your ship and its parts.

 
Step 7:

Give oral Power Point presentation on your planet 

Present poster of your spaceship

  • Discuss your flight plans and present your model/diagram/chart of your spaceship.

Resources:

Click on your planet to begin your research.


Mercury


Venus


Mars


Jupiter


Saturn



Uranus



Neptune


Pluto

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Check out these sites on traveling to your planet:

Trip Through The Solar System

How Far is Your Planet?

Evaluation:

planetPLANET WEBQUESTplanet

Evaluation Rubric

Student: __________ Beginning to meet (1 - 3) Meeting 
(4 - 6)		 Exceeding 
(7 - 10)		 Marks
Mission Patch -shows little relation to task
-lack of attention to neatness		 -design relates to mission
-neat 		 -reflects originality & creativity
-unique design		 __/10
 Notes -few  notes
 		 -sufficient notes
 		 -numerous notes
 		 __/10
Power Point Content - answers only a few questions from Planet worksheet  and data received.

-uses some writing conventions (capitals, punctuation, spelling, paragraphs)
-notes were seldom used

 -answers a sufficient amount of questions from Planet Worksheet and data sheets.

-uses writing conventions (capitals, punctuation, spelling, paragraphs) most of the time
-refers to  notes

 -goes beyond and answers more than the questions the Planet Worksheet and Data sheets asked. Added extra interesting content to their Power Point.

-correct use of writing conventions (capitals, punctuation, spelling, paragraphs) 
-reflects full use of  notes

 __/10
Spaceship and Flight Plan
-grasp of task incomplete

-lack of attention to neatness

-lacks cohesive explanation of flight plan
-reflects task outcomes

-neat

 
-items reflect full range of task

-spaceship reflects originality, creativity and neatness

 __/10
Oral Presentation as a team good use of voice
-not fluent
-has no eye contact with audience
-shows little organization

-team shows little teamwork

 good use of voice
-good fluency
-attempts eye contact with audience
-shows practice, team work & organization		 good use of voice
-good expression & fluency
-good eye contact with audience
-rehearsed & very well organized

-exhibits quality teamwork

 __/10
Total       __/50

COMMENTS: ___________________________________________________________

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Conclusion:

Congratulations! You have just completed a research project on planets. You are an expert on your planet and you have learned about the other planets. You are now senior astronauts ---- experts on our solar system! Good job!

Here are some other websites you can visit on the planets and our solar system:

Teacher Information:

This webquest was designed to:

  • 1.) Develop research skills.

  • 2.) Collaborative Learning- Work in groups to gather and sort information.

  • 3.) Develop technological skills by using Power Point and the Internet.

  • 4.) Engage students in oral language through participation in team discussions and oral presentation.

  • 5.) Apply math strategies to solve problems.

  • 6