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Blast off to a web-based
lesson on the planets, moons, comets, and asteroids of our Solar System!
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Introduction
This is a web-based lesson that focuses on Space
Science. Students will embark on an amazing journey to learn about
the objects in our Solar System. During this journey, they will
orbit around planets, the Sun, planetary satellites, comets, and
asteroids and make some new discoveries. The culminating activity
will be their vacation trip planned for their newly discovered planet.
Subject: Earth Science
Topic: Objects in the Solar System
Grade Level: 8th
Student
Page
Standards Addressed
Eighth Grade
Science: Focus On Earth
Science
Earth in the Solar System (Earth Science)
4. The structure and composition of the universe can be learned
from studying stars and galaxies and their evolution. As a basis for understanding this
concept:
e. Students know the appearance, general composition,
relative position and size, and motion of objects in the solar system, including planets,
planetary satellites, comets, and asteroids.
Instructional Objectives
- Given sample pictures of objects in the solar system,
the student will identify the nine planets of the solar system with 100% accuracy.
- Given the name of each planet in the solar system,
the student will describe the general composition of the nine planets with 100% accuracy.
- Given the name of objects in the solar system, the
student will describe the general composition of a comet, an asteroid, and the Moon, with
100% accuracy.
- Upon request, the student will order the planets of
the solar system by increasing distance from the Sun, with 100% accuracy.
- Upon request, the student will classify the nine planets of the solar
system from largest to smallest, with 100% accuracy.
- Given the name of each planet in the solar system,
the student will describe the planet's rotation about it's axis and it's revolution around
the Sun, with 100% accuracy.
- Given the names of planetary satellites (moons), the
student will identify the planet that the satellite orbits, with 90% accuracy.
- Upon request, the student will classify the nine planets as either
terrestrial or gaseous, with 100% accuracy.
Student Activities
Introductory Activity
The students will take a
pre-test cold, to test their prior knowledge about the planets in the solar
system. Pre-Test
(Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter). Pre-Test
(Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto)
Enabling Activity(ies)
Students will be placed into groups of
four. The group's job is to select a planet to research and then, based
on their research, design a travel brochure describing a vacation that is
being offered to that planet.
Culminating Activity
Students will give an oral presentation describing their
planet and the vacation they have to offer. The presentation must
satisfy the following requirements:
- The presentation must be at least 10 minutes in
length.
- Two visual aides must be used during the
presentation. (brochure, chart, etc.)
- Everyone in the group must participate during the
presentation.
- The presentation must somehow convince the other
members of the class to take the vacation that the group is offering.
The presentation will be filmed by the teacher.
When all presentations have been completed, a "Premiere" will be
held in the classroom.
Assessment
Rubric
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SCORE
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IF THE STUDENT...
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4
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covers
all aspects required; knows the content matter well; obviously
practiced the presentation; stays within the given time limit; is
poised while giving the presentation; can confidently answer
questions posed by the audience.
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3
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covers
all aspects required; stays within the given time limit; may be
hesitant in giving presentation or answering audience questions.
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2
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leaves
out some aspect of the required information; stays within the
given time limit; needs to build confidence in giving
presentations and answering questions.
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1
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makes
little attempt to include required information in presentation;
obviously has not practiced; does not stay within the time limit;
needs work on presentation skills.
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0
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does
not complete the task; or gives information that has nothing to do
with what was asked.
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Written by
John B. Lazarcik. Last updated 05/22/01.
Results
Pre-Test vs. Post-Test
by Periods
Project
Results by Periods
Comparison
of Pre-Test vs. Post-Test
Comparison
of Project Grades
Power
Point Presentation
Web Resources & Supplementary Materials
Introductory Activity
Enabling Activity
http://www.edgate.com/discovery.html
http://www.discovery.com/news/features/marsonearth/marsonearth.html
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/lab/2683
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/homepage.htm
http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/
http://www.seds.org/nineplanets/nineplanets/nineplanets.html
Culminating Activity
Kennedy Middle School
El Centro, CA
John B. Lazarcik, e-mail: jonrobyn@brawleyonline.com
Last Revised: 05/22/2001 |
