Objectives:  Students will be able to name the nine planets of the Solar System and know important characteristics that make each one different from the other. 

Students will fill out worksheets about the various planets and complete at least five of the listed projects, including the required ones, marked by an *.  Students will then present the information to the class as a whole in various ways, including oral reports,  posters, slide shows, and other presentations. 
 

Title: "Where in the Universe are WE?"

Technology resources required:

AppleWorks 5.0 (or 4.0)
Access to up-to-date computer
Access to the Internet
Various Encyclopedias (both hard cover and software)

Subject Area: Regular and S.L.D. Science

Grade Level:  6-8 

Description:  Students will use the WEB to get current, up-to-date information about our Solar System and the Universe.  There is an infinite amount of information readily available to the students.

Approximate Time Required:  Two weeks.

Gain Attention:  GO to PowerPoint presentation on OUR SOLAR SYSTEM.

Students will use varied media to find information about our Solar System, its planets and satellites, and our place in the Universe. CRISS strategies will be used to develop an organization of the information that the students find.   Students will have a choice of activities with which to demonstrate their new-found knowledge.  Throughout this unit, the emphasis will be on the students' gathering information using various forms of technology.

• Do the PRETEST.
• Do the INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITES with the teacher. 
• LINKS TO THE PLANETS as an introduction.
• Do the SOLAR SYSTEM CROSS WORD PUZZLE.
• Students find the information about the planets, using various media.  Students fill out various worksheets to answer the questions and/or organize the information.  Students will work singly or in small groups.
• Students do presentations to the whole class.

   1.  *Do an in-depth report on one topic, such as a planet, using a variety of media, with information from the internet and other sources.

   2.  *Show evidence of participation in on-line interactive exercises pertaining to the solar system, NASA, and other space-related subjects.

   3.  * Show evidence of use of Internet to gather information, either by listing URL's or a collection of printed materials.

   4.  Read two books about Space, the Solar System, Comets, and related subjects.

   5.  Make a model of the solar system, as close to scale as possible, using whatever materials  you would like.

   6.  Make a model of a satellite from "junk".

   7.  Design a model rocket, either as an illustration or a model.

   8.  Demonstrate what motion of the earth causes night and day.

   9.  Demonstrate the revolution of the earth around the sun to explain both the length of the year and the seasons.

   10.  Demonstrate by model, or active presentation, the causes of both the solar and lunar eclipses.

   11.  Any other creative projects, with permission from the teacher.

Here are some directions sheets for using AppleWorks 5.0 and ClarisWorks 4.0  that will help you make a better presentation.  (You are welcome to copy the directions and give them to your friends as long as you keep the name of the author on them---enjoy!)

• Directions for making a BAR GRAPH.
• Directions for making a SLIDE SHOW in Word Processing.

LIVE LINKS FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

RUBRIC for Solar System Final Presentation

LOOK HERE FOR OTHER RUBRICS.

LINKS to other RUBRICS.