THE PLANET PROJECT

Overview: Projects allow us to discover, research, summarize and present information about specific topics to an audience. Projects allow us to get creative and use our imaginations. Projects allow us to explore topics that are important to us. Over the next week, we are going to become scientists, actors, explorers, travel agents, teachers and activists, as we investigate the planets in our solar system. Choose an option from the attached challenge board, and work individually to complete the challenge.

These are DUE on Friday 3/9/12 We will be PRESENTING these to the class on Monday 3/12/12
****Presentations will be done in a gallery/walk through format** _____________________________________________________________ You may use information from books, encyclopedias or websites, and will make a bibliography of the sources you used. A good place to start is: http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets.html You will have class time this week to be able to work on your projects. Objectives: -Investigate a planet by key characteristics -List several ways that Earth differs from the other planets. Guidelines: All projects should include the following: 1. Creative cover with a picture of the planet and the names of your group members. 2. Bibliography of all sources used (including the pictures) BEWARE: plagiarism will result in an automatic 0! 3. All information from the Planet Project Research Guide 4. Creativity, thought, effort and imagination.

***Have fun!***

THOUGHT ORGANIZER SHEET

1. My planet is:

2. Chose a project option from the sheet. The challenge I choose is:

3. How am I going to do this?

4. When am I going to do this?

5. What materials will I need?

6. What resources will I need? (Where will I find my information?)

PLANET PROJECT CHALLENGE BOARD

You will choose one project option from the challenge board that you would like to explore and share with the class. Choices are DUE by Tuesday March 6, 2012 Projects are DUE on Friday March 9, 2012 You will present your projects on Monday March 12, 2012 Option 1: Create an artistic representation of the planet of your choice and share it with the class. A detailed illustration, poster, photo collage, a childrens bookget creative! Your project should show significant effort and creativity. MUST Include all information from the planet research guide. Option 2: Design a game or activity about your planet for an elementary school class, to teach them about your planet. Consider games or activities, that are age appropriate. Think about ways of learning and activities that YOU like. MUST Include all information from the planet research guide. Option 3: Think about past vacations you have taken. Remember the travel brochure? Create a travel brochure for a tourist who wants to visit your planet. Consider a brief summary of the setting, with key places to visit. Location, including a map. Historic sites and landmarks, recreation and activates, things to do for fun, climate and overall weather conditions, transportation, pictures and graphics. MUST Include all information from the planet research guide. Option 5: Create your own challenge or adapt one of these ideas. Present a proposal for approval by Tuesday, March 6th. In your project MUST include all information from the planet project research guide.

Option 3: Life forms: Draw a picture/diagram and write a description of a life form that might live on your planet. Include adaptations and special characteristics that will allow the life form to survive in your planets conditions. (How will it breathe, eat, stay at a correct temperature, etc.) Write a one page description about your life form. MUST Include all information from the planet research guide.

Option 4: Write a letter to congress to convince them to either continue or begin space exploration to your planet. Why should this mission occur and what can we gain from it? See the attached rubric and sample letter format. MUST Include all information from the planet research guide.

PLANET PROJECT RESEARCH GUIDE: (KEY INFORMATION) 1. Rotation & Revolution The rotational period of my planet is: The revolution period of my planet is: 2. Planet Details The diameter of my planet is: The distance from the sun of my planet is: My planet is the ______________ planet from the sun. 3. Planet Atmosphere Describe (in detail) the atmosphere of your planet.

4. Planet Surface Describe (in detail) the surface of your planet, including any interesting characteristics.

5. Discovery Who discovered your planet? When was your planet discovered?

6. Space Missions Have space missions visited your planet? If so, when? What did they discover? Did they land on your planet? 7. Moons What types of moons (satellites) orbit your planet? How many are there? Describe them. 8. Planet Facts Write four interesting facts about your planet.

9. Planet Pictures Find four pictures to include. (Either print or draw them)

PLANET PROJECT RUBRIC

Excellent (4) Content Project includes all information from the planet research guide. Very Good (3) Project includes 68 points from the planet research guide Project is well organized, display effort and research information is easy to follow. Project shows creative effort and is engaging to the audience. Project has a bibliography that is mostly complete. Project has neat writing and drawing Satisfactory (2) Project includes 35 point from the planet research guide Project somewhat organized, but the concepts are still evident. Unsatisfactory (1) Points Project includes 1-2 points from the planet research guide Does not meet satisfactory criteria. /4

Organizati Project is very well on organized, clearly displays great effort and research information is easy to follow. Creativity Project is creatively presented and very engaging to the audience.

/4

Project shows Does not meet some creative satisfactory element, but could criteria. be more engaging to the audience. Project is has a Project has no bibliography that is bibliography incomplete. Project has legible Project is sloppy, writing and or illegible. drawing, but sloppy.

/4

Bibliograp Project has a hy complete bibliography in the correct format. Neatness Project has extremely neat writing and drawing. *use of ruler, etc.)

/4

/4

Total possible points: 20

Comments:

Planet Project Checklist/Time Line Sheets

Date: Done (needs to get checked off by a teacher) Approved/comments Description of Task

Monday 3/5/12 (in classroom)

1. Brainstorm and choose a planet to research. 2. Choose a project option from the Challenge board 3. Begin to fill in Thought Organizer Sheet 1. Begin your research. Read books, search the Internet, and visit libraries. 2. Fill in or use your Planet Research Guide to gather key information 1. Continue to research. 2. Turn in a bibliography (a list of the resources you have used so far and still plan to use in your research. This includes books, websites, magazines, newspapers, etc. 3. Work on completing your project. 1. Complete your project and turn in.

Tuesday 3/6/12 (in computer lab)

BLOCK DAY (in computer lab) Wednesday 3/7/12 ---and-Thursday 3/8/12 Friday 3/9/12 (in computer lab)

Monday 3/12/12: Presentation of projects-Gallery Walkthrough in Classroom.