Introduction || Tasks || Process || Resources || Learning Advice || Standards || Assessment || Conclusion

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Click on any planet below or the sun to zoom in.

 

Introduction

What are your favorite places to visit? If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go? Would you go to Disney World, a beach in Hawaii or to see Kangaroos in Australia? Did you think of Mars or Saturn? Imagine if you could go anywhere in the solar system! In this WebQuest you can! Our class has been asked by the Intergalactic Council to help increase people's interest in traveling in outer space. You and your outer space partners are going to travel to one of the nine planets in our solar system or the sun.  

You and your space partners will choose a planet or the sun. You'll need to collect information in the categories listed below in order to help the Intergalactic Council attract humans into space. You have 2 tasks. Your first task is to learn as much as you can about your planet or star and create a travel advertisement mural to convince people to come there. Click here to see a description of your mural project.

Since people won't be able to easily live on each planet or star without certain equipment because of the temperature, oxygen or light, your second task is to design a being which could live on your planet or star. You will do this by changing or adapting a human to fit the environment there. Click here to see a description of the space human project. Finally your team will present the mural and adapted being to the class.

Planet's or Star's Name What is the story behind your planet's or star's name ? For example who was it named after? Why did they call the planet or star that name?

Planet or Star Location

What planets are next to your planet or star? If the sun is number 0 in the system and Pluto

is number 9, what number in the system would your planet be?

What is the whole order of the planets in the solar system?

Are there any moons, planets or satellites that orbit your planet or star? What are the names

of the moons, planets or satellites?

Planet or Star Surface

Is your planet or star solid or made of gases?

Does your planet or star have water on it? Is there oxygen?

What color is your planet or star?

Is there more or less gravity on your planet or star than on Earth?

Planet or Star Size

What size is your planet or star?

What is the temperature of your planet or star?

Planet or Star Exploration

Have humans every visited your planet or star or explored it using satellites?

Use this question to create your planet person:

What would a person who visited this planet or star need to bring with them for survival?

Change your human based on these three things:

temperature of your planet

amount of light

amount of oxygen

 

As a class we will brainstorm how our body is adapted for each of these three things on Earth, then you will make changes to the human body so that a human could live on your planet or star.

Once you have collected all of the planet or star information you'll create an advertisement in the form of a mural to teach the class about your planet or star and to convince humans to take a vacation there. Your mural should show in picture or word form all of the information you collected from the questions above. Your mural should show all nine planets and the sun, but your planet should be the focus or main point of your mural. Make sure everyone in your group can talk about the pictures and words on your mural during the presentation.

Since you have learned so much about your planet or star, you also now know what a person would need to bring with them or how a human's body would have to change in order for them to be able to live there. Humans can not survive as we are built today on other planets or stars. Create a space human who could live on your planet or star. You need to add things to a human or make changes in things that already exist in humans, such as their lungs or eyes. This person can be drawn on paper, separate from your mural, or you can dress up as this person during your presentation. When designing your person remember to think about the following things:

 Once your mural and human design are done you will present both to the class. When you present your mural you need to talk about the pictures and words on your mural. You need to explain what each picture shows. Make sure you include all of the questions you researched. When you present your space human make sure your talk about all of the changes or adaptations you made. Be sure to say why you made each change. 

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Process

1. Pick your topic by choosing your 3 favorite planets or stars. You will choose your topic from this list

of favorites.

2. Read the questions you need to answer in the tasks section.  The questions

will be given to you again on the Space Note page to help you organize your notes.

3. Collect information using the Internet links and books. Keep all of this

information on the Space Note page. Make sure you also collect information about what a human would need in order to live on your planet or star. Click here to look at the four questions.

4. Remember to look for headings when you are searching the websites. Look for large key words to help you

find information.

5. Make your mural. Use pictures and words to show all of the information you

learned about your planet or star. You will work on your mural and your person at the same time.

6. Create your space person. Remember this person can be drawn on paper or

you can dress up as your person. Use a lot of detail.

7. When both of your projects are done, you and your partners need to plan out

how you are going to present your mural and person. Make sure everyone in your group presents. Ms. Chagnon will give you a presentation sheet to help you plan your presentation.

8. Practice your presentation several times.

9. Present your projects to the class!

 

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Learning Advice

1. Split the research questions with your partner. Each of you can research different

questions about your planet or star.

2. Use the Space Note page to organize all of your information.

3. Any word that is underlined on this page is a link which will take you to another

website or somewhere else on this page.

4. Work as a team on both of your projects.

5. Practice your presentation several times, so you'll be ready to share your projects with

the class.

6. Talk to each other about what you learn. You will both need to talk about your mural

and your person during the presentation.

7. Have fun exploring this WebQuest and building your projects!

 

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Standards

 7.15: Students demonstrate understanding of the earth and its environment, the solar system, and the universe in terms of the systems that characterize them, the forces that affect and shape them over time, and the theories that currently explain their evolution. This is evident when students:

d. Identify and record characteristics of our solar system (e.g., nine planets, order from sun, and movement of planets in relationship to the sun and moon; calendar);

 7.13: Students understand the characteristics of organisms, see patterns of similarity and differences among living organisms, understand the role of evolution, and recognize the interdependence of all systems that support life. This is evident when students:

a. Identify characteristics of organisms (e.g., needs, environments that meet them; structures, especially senses; variation and behaviors, inherited and learned).

 1.15 Students use verbal and nonverbal skills to express themselves effectively. This is evident when students:

a. Share information;

b. Use accepted conventions of the English language (e.g., grammar, usage, word choice, pronunciation) in formal settings (e.g., class presentations, job interviews);

c. Show awareness of an audience by planning.

d. Make effective use of such devices as pace, volume.

1.18 Students use computers, telecommunications, and other tools of technology to research, to gather information and ideas, and to represent information and ideas accurately and appropriately.

 

  

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Assessment

 

Mural and Technology Use Rubric

Criteria	Just Starting	Almost There	Meets the Standard	Beyond the Standard
Standard 7.15 Identifying and recording characteristics of our solar system	I correctly identified 5 or less of the research questions. My mural shows a few of the research categories, which include: exploration, size, surface, location and name history.	I correctly identified 6 to 8 of the research questions. My mural shows part of the exploration, size, surface, location and name history of my planet or star, but all of the categories are included.	I correctly identified 9 to 10 of the research questions. My mural shows exploration, size, surface, location and name history.	I correctly identified all 11 research questions and included additional information. My mural shows exploration, size, surface, location and name history and is very detailed and organized.
Standard 1.18 Using the WebQuest to research and gather information and ideas.	I used the Solar System WebQuest to research and gather information with frequent adult assistance, (3 out of 4 or 4 out of 4 times).	I used the Solar System WebQuest to research and gather information with some adult assistance, (2 out of 4 times).	I used the Solar System WebQuest to research and gather information with very little adult assistance, (1 out of 4 times).	I used the Solar System WebQuest to research and gather information with very few adult reminders.

 

Planet or Star Person Rubric

Criteria	Just Starting	Almost There	Meets the Standard	Beyond the Standard
Standard 7.13 Students understand the characteristics of organisms (their needs, and environments that meet them).	I created a person which could survive on my planet or star using 0 to 1 of the required factors (the temperature, light, and oxygen levels). I was able to accurately explain why I made 0 to 1 of the changes during my presentation.	I created a person which could survive on my planet or star using 2 of the required factors (the temperature, light, and oxygen levels). I was able to accurately explain why I made 2 of the changes during my presentation.	I created a person which could survive on my planet or star using the temperature, light, and oxygen levels. I was able to accurately explain why I made all 3 of the changes during my presentation.	I created a person which could survive on my planet or star using the temperature, light, and oxygen levels. I used great detail. I was able to accurately explain why I made all of the changes during my presentation in great detail.

 

Presentation Rubric

Criteria	Just Starting	Almost There	Meets the Standard	Beyond the Standard
Standard 1.15 Using verbal and nonverbal skills to express themselves effectively.	I planned parts of my presentation. A few times during my presentation: I shared information using clear sentences. I pronounced words correctly. I spoke at an appropriate speed and volume.	I planned my presentation. During some of my presentation: I shared information using clear sentences. I pronounced words correctly. I spoke at an appropriate speed and volume.	During most of my presentation: I shared information using clear sentences. I planned my presentation and pronounced words correctly. I spoke at an appropriate speed and volume.	During all of my presentation: I shared information using clear sentences. I planned my presentation and pronounced words correctly. I spoke at an appropriate speed and volume. I looked at the audience during most of the presentation.

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Conclusion

  Congratulations, your hard work has paid off! The Intergalactic Council used all of our murals to advertise the planets and the sun and each has been visited by thousands of people. Not only have you attracted people to space, but you have also taught others many important things about your planet or star. The Intergalactic Council is very thankful for you help. The Council can always use your help, in fact they would really appreciate any additional advertisements you can make. Those of you who choose to continue to work with the council can create a brochure or mini-book about the sun or any of the other planets which you have not yet visited. The brochure or mini-book should answer the same questions as your mural did. You could also choose to build a three dimensional model of the your planet or star. Your model should show how your planet or star looks, including the color, moons, or rings which surround it. See Ms. Chagnon for information sheets to help you with the brochure, mini-book or model. The Council greatly appreciates all of your continued help!

 

Send any questions or comments to the author, Leslie Chagnon (third grade teacher).   Back To Top