The Solar System Jigsaw

Mr. Pence, 8th Grade Science

Space…the final frontier

Table of ContentsThis place is getting a little crowded (Imagine if you will…)

Project description (Your Assignment)

Sequence of activities (How you will present your findings)

Timelines & deadlines

Rubrics

Web Resources

Imagine if you will…

You, as Director of Interplanetary Relations, have been asked to prepare a short presentation on the main facts of one of our solar system bodies. Since our nearest celestial neighbors, the DanDans, don’t know much about these places, you will need to prepare them for potential colonization, should they be interested.

We are asking you, because we know you will deliver!

Your AssignmentResearch, using the online resources you have been given, and any other good ones:

Max/Min temperatures of your planet

Composition

Overall place in our solar system and how long we have known about it

If it has been visited by manned or robotic missions

Any other truly unique facts about it

Include LOTS of pictures and memorable facts

How you will present your

findings…Since your audience can only read for 10 seconds at a time before needing to recharge their “sight”…

You are to prepare a 7-10 slide PowerPoint presentation that runs on a self-timer of 10 seconds per slide.

Include as many visuals as you can since vocabulary of the DanDans is limited.

Big print

Contrasting colors

Remember, less is more!!! Limit animation so it has impact, not tedium.

Timelines and Deadlines

Initial research note page (two periods in computer lab) due for teacher check/credit at end of second research day

Rough draft PowerPoint with chosen pictures and facts to be included (due saved on server at end of third class period)

Final draft with all pictures, animation and facts due on server end of fourth day

Class peer presentation TBA

Grading rubricTOTAL VALUE 40 POINTS

10 POINTS FOR FACT ACCURACY10: ALL PERTINENT FACTS ACCURATE, SPELLED CORRECTLY, PRESENTED CLEARLY, SHOW EXTENSIVE RESEARCH

9: FACTS CLEAR AND ACCURATE THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED

8: ABOVE BASIC INFORMATION, CLEARLY PRESENTED

7: COMMON BASIC INFORMATION PRESENTED

6: SOME COMMON FACTS LEFT OUT

5: MAJOR FACTUAL INFORMATION LACKING OR INCORRECT

Rubric continued…

10 POINTS FOR USE OF VISUAL MEDIA10: 7 OR MORE DIFFERENT PICTURES OF THE OBJECT THAT ENHANCE AND ILLUSTRATE FACTS

9: 5-6 ENHANCING PICTURES

8: 4 ENHANCING PICTURES OR MORE THAT DO NOT GO WITH DESCRIPTION ON SLIDE

7: SOLID, ACCURATE ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE OBJECT

6: FEW PICTURES, OR INAPPROPRIATE FOR FACTS

5: MINIMAL VISUAL AIDS

More rubric…(you always want to

know!)10 POINTS FOR USE OF THE POWERPOINT MEDIUM

10 : 7-10 SLIDES, SELF-TIMED, ANIMATED, EASY TO READ, USED ADVANCED FEATURES

9: 7-10 SLIDES, SELF-TIMED, ANIMATED, EASY TO READ

8: 7-10 SLIDES, SELF-TIMED, EASY TO READ

7: LESS THAN 7 SLIDES, OR DIFFICULT TO READ, OR LOOK THE SAME THROUGHOUT

6: MARGINALLY COMPLETE

5: IS A POWERPOINT, NOT A LOT MORE

Rubric concluding…

10 POINTS FOR CREATIVITY10: INCLUDES MUSIC/SOUND, MOTION, UNIQUE WAY OF REACHING THE DANDANS

9: INCLUDES MUSIC/SOUND, ENGAGES THE AUDIENCE

8: USE OF ENHANCENTS KEEPS OUR ATTENTION

7: ATTENTION KEPT THROUGH VARIATION OF SLIDES, NO MUSIC/SOUND

6: LITTLE INDIVIDUAL CREATIVITY EXPRESSED, BUT OVERALL DOES COMMUNICATE

5: IS IT OVER YET?

A few good websites…

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

http://www.space.com/jupiter/

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

http://www.kidscosmos.org/kid-stuff/jupiter-facts.html

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

http://www.nineplanets.org/

http://www.abc.net.au/children/space/planets/default.htm

http://www.frontiernet.net/~kidpower/planets.html

http://exoplanets.org/

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

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/

http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/planets

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/index.cfm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/solarsystem/index.shtml

http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/

And may The Force be with

you!