Solar System

On this space mission, you will  "land" on each planet (well, to gather information from the internet!)

You will be researching planets on the Internet and recording information on this chart  that you will print out. You will record each planet's distance from the sun, size, temperature, rotation, revolution, and even your age and weight on each of the planets! (some info will be about the sun, but you'll have to record your data from afar, as it wouldn't be a good idea to actually "land" on the sun!)

You will also need to find out three interesting facts about each planet (make sure to include facts about the Earth and Sun, too) and present your information in one of three ways: a 3-D model of our solar system with facts labelled, an oral report with drawings of the planets, or create a Google Slide presentation.

You also will be researching the names of the planets and where they came from. You must provide information on all of the planet names, and then choose one to draw a picture of the god/goddess that the planet was named after, or read a story to the class about that god/goddess.

Finally, there will be a few "fun" websites to play with that deal with the solar system. Enjoy the rest of your mission. Hold on tight,  we are now exiting the earth's atmosphere...proceed to the next part of your trip...the "Process" part of your mission!

Process: 

In this part of your mission, you will be landing on your planets, investigating them, and recording your data. Have fun and enjoy your exciting adventure into the solar system!

Step 1:

Using some of the following websites, record all needed information about the planets on your chart record three fun facts about each planet that are not on the chart already.

http://www.kidzone.ws/planets/index.htm

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0769141.html

http://www.davidson.k12.nc.us/webquests/planets/planets.htm

http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/palmasola/psgk3ex.htm

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/starwarp2.html

http://www.lessonplanspage.com/more/205mer.html

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/planets.html

http://www.nineplanets.org/sol.html ((the sun)

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/sun_facts.html  (the sun)

Step 2:

The earth revolves once around the sun approximately every 365 days. This is our "one year." But other planets revolve slower or faster than the earth, making their "one year" come much slower or faster than ours. Find out how old (in earth years) you would be on other planets. This also goes on your chart.  Make sure to also look at when your next birthday would be on some of the planets. It's funny to see how long you would have to wait for a birthday party there:

http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/age/index.html

Because of the different sizes and masses of the planets and their different gravitational pull they would have on you, your weight would be different on all of the planets. Explore this website to record your weight on all of the planets and the sun:

http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/weight/index.html

Step 3:

Using the data you recorded on the chart, do one of three projects:

1) Craft a 3-D model of our solar system, labelling each planet and listing three facts about each one on your model.

2) Give an oral report, describing each planet with at least three facts given about each. Show a drawing you have made of each planet as you talk about it. Each person in the group must speak about at least two of the planets.

3) Create a Google Slide Presentation

Step 4:

Research how the planets got their names and record your data on each planet's name. Then draw a picture of one of the gods/goddesses that the planet was named after, or read a mythology story about that god/goddess. 

Names of the planets:

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0875452.html 

http://www.lessonplanspage.com/more/205mer.html

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question48.html

Fun Stuff (try at least some of these):

The size of our world: (This is great!)

http://www.rense.com/general72/size.htm 

This is a fun calculator for making a model of the solar system to scale (we could not really do this in a classroom!) On the calculator, put the sun in as 1 cm in diameter, then see how far each model planet would have to be from each other:

http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/index.html

Some great space photographs from NASA:

http://sse.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/gallery.cfm?&Page=23

Send a space postcard:

http://www.dustbunny.com/afk/postcards/

Solar System Games from NASA:

Planet Order: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/games/G_Solar_System_Game.html

Unscramble the Words: http://www.ueet.nasa.gov/StudentSite/games/aeronauticsjumble.htm

Tic Tac Toe: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/games/G_Shuttle_Tac_Toe.html

Now you may launch back to Earth and continue with your "Evaluations"...

Introduction   Task   Process   Evaluation   Conclusion   Teacher Page

Review your work, take a look and see if you have answered all the information that has been asked.  Once you are happy with your work, show it to Mrs Heys.   Your work will then be posted on the St Therese's Library Webpage. 

You have now learned a lot of information about the Solar System.  What was your favourite part of this Webquest?  Did you enjoy working out your weight on different planets?

ST1-8ES describes some observable changes that occur in the sky and landscape

ST1-1VA  shows interest in and enthusiasm for science and technology, responding to their curiosity,

questions and perceived needs, wants and opportunities

ST1-2VA  demonstrates a willingness to engage responsibly with local, national and global issues relevant

to their lives, and to shaping sustainable futures

ST1-3VA  develops informed attitudes about the current and future use and influence of science and

technology based on reason

ST1-4WS  investigates questions and predictions by collecting and recording data, sharing and reflecting

on their experiences and comparing what they and others know

ST1-5WT uses a structured design process, everyday tools, materials, equipment and techniques to

produce solutions that respond to identified needs and wants