Spectacular Solar System

Introduction

Hi there space specialists! My name is astronaut Andy and I need your help here at the space station. We are ready to offer vacations to each of the planets in our solar system, but we need your assistance in creating a brochure for tourists to get them interested in visiting your planet. 

Task

You and your team of space specialists will first learn all about the planet that you will be convincing tourists to travel to. 

Your team will work together on creating a brochure that will interest tourists to travel on vacation to the planet your group has been assigned to by your teacher. Each group member will be assigned one role within their group, then you will work together to create the brochure. 

The roles are...

1. Statistic Smarty--your job is to report out about the statistics of the planet, such as; rotation, distance from sun, size, gravity, etc. 

2. Meteorologist--your job is to report out about the climate of your planet. What will the weather be like? This information will help tourists know what to pack for their trip. 

3. Attraction Ace--your job is to report out about all the interesting places tourists will want to visit while vacationing on your planet. 

 

Every team member will also be in charge of finding a photograph that goes along with their job. 

 

Process

1. You will be assigned a role of Statistic Smarty, Meteorologist, or Attraction Ace by your teacher.

2. You and your team of space specialists will explore websites picked out by your teacher under your assigned planet.

3. As you are learning about your planet you will be required to complete your space research booklet for your role. You will take this information back to your group to help you when you start creating the brochure that your group will use to convince tourists to travel to your planet. 

 

Mercury

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/mercury.htm

http://www.planetsforkids.org/planet-mercury.html

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Mercury

http://nineplanets.org/mercury.html

http://www.ducksters.com/science/mercury.php

Venus

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/venus.htm

http://www.planetsforkids.org/planet-venus.html

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Venus

http://nineplanets.org/venus.html

http://www.ducksters.com/science/venus.php

Mars

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/mars.htm

http://www.planetsforkids.org/planet-mars.html

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Mars

http://nineplanets.org/mars.html

http://nineplanets.org/phobos.html

http://nineplanets.org/deimos.html

http://www.ducksters.com/science/mars.php

Jupiter

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/jupiter.htm

http://www.planetsforkids.org/planet-jupiter.html

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Jupiter

http://nineplanets.org/jupiter.html

http://www.ducksters.com/science/jupiter.php

Saturn

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/saturn.htm

http://www.planetsforkids.org/planet-saturn.html

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Saturn

http://nineplanets.org/saturn.html

http://www.ducksters.com/science/saturn.php

Uranus

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/uranus.htm

http://www.planetsforkids.org/planet-uranus.html

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Uranus

http://nineplanets.org/uranus.html

http://www.ducksters.com/science/uranus.php

Neptune

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/neptune.htm

http://www.planetsforkids.org/planet-neptune.html

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Neptune

http://nineplanets.org/neptune.html

http://www.ducksters.com/science/neptune.php

Evaluation

Your team of space specialists will complete a brochure with the following information:

-Decorative cover that clearly shows travelers where they would be going

-1 section about the statistics of the planet.

-1 section about the climate and weather of the planet.

-1 section about attractions that tourists can visit while vacationing to the planet. 

-Back cover telling tourists why they should visit your planet. This is your final chance to convince/persuade them to go to your planet. 

-Every section needs a photograph that goes along with the text. Each photograph must have a caption. 

~See the rubric below~

 

Beginning

0

Developing

1

Very Good

2

Exemplary

3

Score

Brochure Cover

The planet destination is unclear.

The cover of the brochure identifies the planet destination.

The cover of the brochure identifies the planet destination and has some decorative design.

The cover of the brochure identifies the planet destination and has a very creative decorative design.

3

Statistics

There is little to no information about the statistics of the planet.

There are a couple of accurate details about the statistics of the planet.

There are several accurate details about the statistics of the planet.

There are many accurate details about the statistics of the planet.

3

Climate/Weather

There is little to no information about the climate/weather of the planet.

There are a couple of accurate details about the climate/weather of the planet.

There are several accurate details about the climate/weather of the planet.

There are many accurate details about the climate/weather of the planet.

3

Attractions

There is little to no information about the attractions of the planet.

There are a couple of accurate details about the attractions of the planet.

There are several accurate details about the attractions of the planet.

There are many accurate details about the attractions of the planet.

3

Back Cover

There is little to no information on the back cover of the brochure convincing tourists to travel to the planet.

There are a couple details convincing tourists to travel to the planet on the back cover.

There are several details convincing tourists to travel to the planet on the back cover.

There are multiple details convincing tourists to travel to the planet, along with a very creative decorative design.

3

Photographs

There are no photographs included on the brochure.

There is one appropriate photograph on the brochure with a caption.

There are two photographs on the brochure with captions.

There are three or more photographs on the brochure with captions.

3
Conclusion

Congratulations space specialists! The space station will forever be thankful for the exciting brochures you have created to help tourists pick their next vacation destination! There are many tourists that cannot wait to travel and learn all about your planet.

Check out one of the sites below to play a game about the solar system. 

http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/menu/play/

http://www.sciencechannel.com/games-and-interactives/solar-system-memor…

Credits

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/

http://nineplanets.org/

http://www.planetsforkids.org/

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/kids/

google images for clipart

Teacher Page

S.3–5.ES.5

Essential Concept and/or Skill: Understand and apply knowledge of the properties, movements, and locations of objects in our solar system. Most objects in the solar system are in regular and predictable motion. The rotation of the earth on its axis every 24 hours produces the day–and–night cycle. To people on the earth this turning of the planet makes it seem as though the sun, planets, and stars are orbiting the earth once a day.

The sun appears to move across the sky in the same way every day. Its apparent path changes slowly across the seasons.

The moon’s orbit around the earth once in about 28 days changes what part of the moon is lighted by the sun and how much of that part can be seen from the earth – the phases of the moon.

Eight planets and many other objects revolve around our Sun in predictable patterns. These planets and objects are composed of varied materials.