Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Introduction
The Solar system is a fun and exciting place with lots to explore. The Earth is not the only planet that exist, and is certainly not the largest. Each planet in the solar system varies from any other planet. Some planets have many moons while others have very few or none. Some planets are very cold and others very hot, some are even covered in gas giving them a different appearance then other planets. Although we live on the planet earth there is so much beyond the sky. It is important for everyone to have some knowledge of what is beyond our clouds. To do this you will be exploring several websites to learn about the individual planets in the solar system and what makes each planet unique. You will then have a chanced to use your discoveries and knowledge to build your own replica of the solar system.
Web 1
Read all Directions before starting.
The first website you will be visiting is:
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/
When at this website I want you to look at each planet and the information carefully.
1. First look on the left hand side of the screen, you will see a listing for the solar system,click on that.
2. You can now click on the different planets to begin learning about them. (remember the Sun is a planet)
*When going trough the website be sure to take notes about each planet. Note things such as,
1.What does the planets name mean.
2. How long does a single orbit of the sun take.
3. Does the planet have any moons.
*When gathering information you should be thinking about how it varies from Earth. and how it would be to live on the other planets, or whether or not you could live on the other planets.
*Each time you click on a planet make sure to scroll through the entire page and notice on the right hand side there is a box with other facts in it. I don't want you to just write down things I want you to find, but things you find interesting. Facts you did not know.
The first website you will be visiting is:
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/
When at this website I want you to look at each planet and the information carefully.
1. First look on the left hand side of the screen, you will see a listing for the solar system,click on that.
2. You can now click on the different planets to begin learning about them. (remember the Sun is a planet)
*When going trough the website be sure to take notes about each planet. Note things such as,
1.What does the planets name mean.
2. How long does a single orbit of the sun take.
3. Does the planet have any moons.
*When gathering information you should be thinking about how it varies from Earth. and how it would be to live on the other planets, or whether or not you could live on the other planets.
*Each time you click on a planet make sure to scroll through the entire page and notice on the right hand side there is a box with other facts in it. I don't want you to just write down things I want you to find, but things you find interesting. Facts you did not know.
Web 2
The second website you will be looking at is
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=1080
*When you get to this website you need to scroll to the bottom of the page where you will find
a list of the different planets.
*Go through and click on each of the planets to learn more about them. When looking at each planet you should be taking notes on the different characteristics of the planets such as,
1. What colors do you see when looking at the pictures,
2. What are some of the physical characteristic of the planet, does it have mountains, craters, rings.
3. Also be sure to look at the temperatures on the planet.
4. What is the planets placement from the sun, compared to the other planets (example: the ? is the third planet from the sun. pay attention to the distances from the sun).
*Feel free to explore the websites and information within them. Do not limit yourself to the focus points I have given you, they are a starting point to help you better understand the solar system and get you started with your exploration.
Be sure to write down all the information you gather.
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=1080
*When you get to this website you need to scroll to the bottom of the page where you will find
a list of the different planets.
*Go through and click on each of the planets to learn more about them. When looking at each planet you should be taking notes on the different characteristics of the planets such as,
1. What colors do you see when looking at the pictures,
2. What are some of the physical characteristic of the planet, does it have mountains, craters, rings.
3. Also be sure to look at the temperatures on the planet.
4. What is the planets placement from the sun, compared to the other planets (example: the ? is the third planet from the sun. pay attention to the distances from the sun).
*Feel free to explore the websites and information within them. Do not limit yourself to the focus points I have given you, they are a starting point to help you better understand the solar system and get you started with your exploration.
Be sure to write down all the information you gather.
Project
*Now that you have gathered all you information, you need to combine your information from the two websites.
*You will be making a three by five note card for each planet. The things I expect to see on each note card are:
1. Name of planet
2. The planets placement among other planets in relevance to the sun (Ex. fourth planet from the sun).
3. You should have the size of the planet and may want to include something about the time it takes for the planet to make a full orbit around the sun, or the time it takes to make a full rotation.
4. At least two characteristics of the planet which may include something about the physical appearance of the planet, does it have mountain, does it have rings.
5. Feel free to include any facts about the planets that you found interesting and that you think may be interesting to others.
The second part of the project will be constructing your very own SOLAR SYSTEM!!
* You will be given ten different sized styrofoam balls, nine different length rods, one metal hook, a piece of string, several pipe cleaners and paint.
1. Based on your information you gathered, you need to first determine which ball is meant to represent which planet. (Hint: knowing the planets size will help determine what ball you will need to use. Smallest ball smallest planet.)
2.After you have determined the planet each ball will represent, you should be sure to label them so you don't get them mixed up.
3. Once you have done steps one and two you will begin painting your planets. They should be painted with similar colors to the planet it is suppose to represent. You will need to look back on the notes you took when observing the pictures to decide how each planet should be painted. and what are the physical characteristics of it. The pipe cleaners can be used for the rings on any planets you observe that have them.
4. After you have completed the painting of your planets you will now construct what is called a mobile, a way to display your solar system. You will use the metal rods of different links you have been given to connect the planets to the sun. You will need to match the different length rods to the planets based on there distance from the sun (the closest planet to the sun needs to have the shortest rod and so on).
5. Then you will need to gently (gently or you may break one of your planets) push one end if the rod into the planet until it is hooked on it and then connect the other end of the rod to the sun which should be your center. Do this with all your planets. Be sure to place the planets in different locations around the outside of the sun.
6.When all planets are connected to the sun you will then take your metal hook provided and push it into the top of the sun. Take your string and tie it around the hook so your mobile can be hung.
7. The last step is to pin the note cards you created, based on your information, to the planets.
*Know hang you project and be proud that you created your own version of the solar system, that you now have a better understanding of.
*You will be making a three by five note card for each planet. The things I expect to see on each note card are:
1. Name of planet
2. The planets placement among other planets in relevance to the sun (Ex. fourth planet from the sun).
3. You should have the size of the planet and may want to include something about the time it takes for the planet to make a full orbit around the sun, or the time it takes to make a full rotation.
4. At least two characteristics of the planet which may include something about the physical appearance of the planet, does it have mountain, does it have rings.
5. Feel free to include any facts about the planets that you found interesting and that you think may be interesting to others.
The second part of the project will be constructing your very own SOLAR SYSTEM!!
* You will be given ten different sized styrofoam balls, nine different length rods, one metal hook, a piece of string, several pipe cleaners and paint.
1. Based on your information you gathered, you need to first determine which ball is meant to represent which planet. (Hint: knowing the planets size will help determine what ball you will need to use. Smallest ball smallest planet.)
2.After you have determined the planet each ball will represent, you should be sure to label them so you don't get them mixed up.
3. Once you have done steps one and two you will begin painting your planets. They should be painted with similar colors to the planet it is suppose to represent. You will need to look back on the notes you took when observing the pictures to decide how each planet should be painted. and what are the physical characteristics of it. The pipe cleaners can be used for the rings on any planets you observe that have them.
4. After you have completed the painting of your planets you will now construct what is called a mobile, a way to display your solar system. You will use the metal rods of different links you have been given to connect the planets to the sun. You will need to match the different length rods to the planets based on there distance from the sun (the closest planet to the sun needs to have the shortest rod and so on).
5. Then you will need to gently (gently or you may break one of your planets) push one end if the rod into the planet until it is hooked on it and then connect the other end of the rod to the sun which should be your center. Do this with all your planets. Be sure to place the planets in different locations around the outside of the sun.
6.When all planets are connected to the sun you will then take your metal hook provided and push it into the top of the sun. Take your string and tie it around the hook so your mobile can be hung.
7. The last step is to pin the note cards you created, based on your information, to the planets.
*Know hang you project and be proud that you created your own version of the solar system, that you now have a better understanding of.
For The Teachers
Teacher Help:
*This activity was designed primarily for students in the fourth.
*The purpose of this webquest activity is to get students thinking beyond what we have here on Earth, and focus on what else is out there. The goal of this activity is to get students involved and interested in the solar system, and to help them understand some of the difference among each planet. Students will learn about the different sizes of the planets, where they are located in reference to the sun, whether or not they have moons and the temperatures of each planet. This knowledge can then help aid them in understanding why some planets temperatures are hotter or colder then others what is the order of planets. By having a research portion as well has a hands on section it helps to keep students wanting to learn. By having them do the research they will travel through the websites where they will read about the different planets and are hopes are that they will gain knowledge that will be of use and/or of interest to them now and in the future.
*In order for a student to do this project they will have to be able to read and follow directions. The students will have to have some note taking skills but not a great deal as long as they can follow along with the directions. Students must also have some hand coordination in order to construct the mobile, the balls used for the planets may break apart. (They are cheap at the craft stores in bulk!)
*For the computer portion the students should be given around two hours whether it is all at once or in several slots is at the teachers discretion. It is important to remember that there are two websites and ten planets they will be taking notes on, so allow the students at least five to ten minutes to explore each planet. This will give them time to learn not just copy down what is being asked of them. The mobile portion may only take and hour or so depending on if you have students working on it all at once or in sections with groups.
*When Grading this project it is important to look at what each student has written as well as constructed.
-Not so good work: If a student has not followed the directions and is missing multiple portions of the information they were supposed to find, this would make for a not so good grade. If a student was not able to gain what was asked specifically and did not manage to gather the needed information would not be ok. A not so good grade may have little information and a lacking knowledge of the planets in their mobiles. Look at their mobile, are the planets in the right order, as far as distances from the sun, Did they look at the colors of the planets and correctly match the color to the planet. If a student is lacking a great deal in both areas it may show they don't understand the knowledge we hoped they would gain.
- An OK grade- A student who has only written exactly what you have asked them to look specifically at and who has a model that has shown they understand the placement of the planets, would be a good grade, but not a 100%. A big part of this project is also that they were supposed to mention things they learned and found interesting above what was asked. A student who shows only a small understanding may not have embraced the assignment fully. Another example of an ok grade may be one who has gone above and beyond in the research portion and has made many notes about what they found interesting, but may not have been able to put what was learned in use for the visual. They may have several planets in the wrong order or may have mis-colored a planet or two.
-A good grade- The students who have incorporated all that was asked and have taken it a step further, by including other things they have learned and found interesting, along with a mobile that has been properly arranged and colored would make for a good grade.
When grading this project remember not to judge the student artistic abilities but their understanding of the planets. (Being able to arrange the planets correctly and to color them in a close correlation to the actual planet, are all parts of showing they understood what they were researching.)
*This activity was designed primarily for students in the fourth.
*The purpose of this webquest activity is to get students thinking beyond what we have here on Earth, and focus on what else is out there. The goal of this activity is to get students involved and interested in the solar system, and to help them understand some of the difference among each planet. Students will learn about the different sizes of the planets, where they are located in reference to the sun, whether or not they have moons and the temperatures of each planet. This knowledge can then help aid them in understanding why some planets temperatures are hotter or colder then others what is the order of planets. By having a research portion as well has a hands on section it helps to keep students wanting to learn. By having them do the research they will travel through the websites where they will read about the different planets and are hopes are that they will gain knowledge that will be of use and/or of interest to them now and in the future.
*In order for a student to do this project they will have to be able to read and follow directions. The students will have to have some note taking skills but not a great deal as long as they can follow along with the directions. Students must also have some hand coordination in order to construct the mobile, the balls used for the planets may break apart. (They are cheap at the craft stores in bulk!)
*For the computer portion the students should be given around two hours whether it is all at once or in several slots is at the teachers discretion. It is important to remember that there are two websites and ten planets they will be taking notes on, so allow the students at least five to ten minutes to explore each planet. This will give them time to learn not just copy down what is being asked of them. The mobile portion may only take and hour or so depending on if you have students working on it all at once or in sections with groups.
*When Grading this project it is important to look at what each student has written as well as constructed.
-Not so good work: If a student has not followed the directions and is missing multiple portions of the information they were supposed to find, this would make for a not so good grade. If a student was not able to gain what was asked specifically and did not manage to gather the needed information would not be ok. A not so good grade may have little information and a lacking knowledge of the planets in their mobiles. Look at their mobile, are the planets in the right order, as far as distances from the sun, Did they look at the colors of the planets and correctly match the color to the planet. If a student is lacking a great deal in both areas it may show they don't understand the knowledge we hoped they would gain.
- An OK grade- A student who has only written exactly what you have asked them to look specifically at and who has a model that has shown they understand the placement of the planets, would be a good grade, but not a 100%. A big part of this project is also that they were supposed to mention things they learned and found interesting above what was asked. A student who shows only a small understanding may not have embraced the assignment fully. Another example of an ok grade may be one who has gone above and beyond in the research portion and has made many notes about what they found interesting, but may not have been able to put what was learned in use for the visual. They may have several planets in the wrong order or may have mis-colored a planet or two.
-A good grade- The students who have incorporated all that was asked and have taken it a step further, by including other things they have learned and found interesting, along with a mobile that has been properly arranged and colored would make for a good grade.
When grading this project remember not to judge the student artistic abilities but their understanding of the planets. (Being able to arrange the planets correctly and to color them in a close correlation to the actual planet, are all parts of showing they understood what they were researching.)
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