Introduction

Imagine that you have to go live on another planet. What would you do? First you would have to study about the different planets that are out there in our solar system before you could make any decsions. But more importantly you have to find out if life can exist on any other planet besides Earth.

To find out about the other planets in our solar system, you will be taking a journey to visit the different planets.  As you visit the planets make sure you take good notes so that you can explain to other people what you have learned.
 

The Task

You will be making your journey to another planet with a partner. You will work in groups of two. Each group will be responsible for investigating and gathering as much information as theycan about their planet.

Before you start your journey, remember to print out the think sheet.
Answer all the questions on this sheet and the additional questions that you will see on the planet page that you will be assigned.

After you have gathered all your information, you and your partner will each write a summary of the information about that particular planet that you were assigned. Then both of you will work together to prepare a presentation for the whole class.  You will teacher your classmates what you learned. Your presentation can be a poster, ad, report, powerpoint demonstration, or anything else that you can think of.
 
 

Resources

The Nine Planets

Best of the Solar System

Internet Kids & Family Yellow Pages

NASA Observation

Kids Space

Russian Space Agency Links

Amazing Space

Students for the Exploration and Developement of Space (SEDS)
 

You can also refer to the books in your classroom and school or public library.
 
 

The Process

1. You will be assigned to a group of 2 or 3 students

2. Once you are in your groups, you will be assigned a planet to research and become 'experts' in.

3. You will begin doing your research by refering to books and textbooks.

4. Then you will you this webquest to do the rest of your research.

5. Before you begin, each member of your group must print out a copy of the think sheet.

6. You will find the answers to the questions in the webquest.

7. In addition to the questions on the sheet you will have specific questions about your planet on the web page. Make sure you put the answer down on your think sheet.

8. After you have completed your research return with your group and compare your results

9.  Each member of the group must write a summary of the information that they got.

10. Then the group can decide how they want to present their information to the class.
 
 

Evaluation

The students will be evaluated based upon the following criteria:
 
 

	1	2	3
Think Sheet	Did not complete	Most of it was complete	Complete
Project	None	The information was not very accurate or complete	Accurate and Creative
Written Summary	Not done	Not typed up/incomplete	Complete information, typed up and presented clearly

This evaluation can be modified to meet the specific classroom situation.
 
 

Conclusion

By the end of your journey through the solar system, you will have a good idea of what are the different planets in our solar system.  Then you will be able to decide if it would be possible to go live on any of these planets.

Have fun as you get ready to take off!!!!
 
 
 
 

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