ASTRONOMICAL COMMERCIAL

Planetary Research and Persuasive Argument Using Technology

  created by Stephanie Greene/McDaniel College/July, 2004/SLM 506

Library Media Skills Objectives: The student will use print and non-print resources to locate and evaluate information.  The student will generate and organize bibliographies. The student will organize and interpret information and develop an information product to present information using technology.*

 

Curriculum Science Objectives:  The student will access and process scientific information and interpret and communicate findings using technological materials.  The student will explain the interactions of the universe: planets, stars, etc. *

 

Curriculum English Objectives:  The student will be able to write to persuade by selecting and organizing relevant information, establishing an argumentative purpose and developing an appropriate strategy for presenting the argument to the audience. *

 

Grade Level: 6th

 

Resources:

Non-Fiction

Apfel, Necia H. The moon and its exploration. Watts, 1982. 72p illus. 523.3 Ap

Barnes-Svarney, Patricia L.Secrets of the sun : a closer look at our star. Austin : Raintree Steck-Vaughn, c2001. 64 p. : ill. (some col.), col. maps ; 26 cm. 523.7 BABranley, Franklyn. Mysteries of the satellites / Franklyn M. Branley ; diagrams by Sally J. Bensusen. Mansfield, 1915- New York : Lodestar Books, c1986. 71 p. : ill., index ; 24 cm. 523.9 BR

Bredeson, Carmen. Neptune / New York : Franklin Watts, 2002. 63 p. : ill. (some col.), port. 523.48 BR

Bredeson, Carmen. Pluto  New York : F. Watts, c2001. 63 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 24 cm. 523.48 BR

Cole, Michael D. Earth, the third planet / [by] Michael D. Cole. Berkeley Heights, NJ : Enslow, 2001. 48 p. : ill. (mostly col.), ports. 525 CO

Cole, Michael D. Jupiter, the fifth planet. Berkeley Heights, NJ : Enslow, 2001. 48 p. : col. ill. 523.45 CO

Cole, Michael D. Mercury : the first planet.  Berkeley Heights, NJ : Enslow Publishers, c2001. 48 p. : illus 523.41 CO

Cole, Michael D  The Moon : earth's companion in space. Berkeley Heights, NJ : Enslow, 2001. 48 p. : ill. (mostly col.)  523.3 CO

Cole, Michael D. The sun, the center of the solar system. Berkeley Heights, NJ : Enslow, 2001. 48 p. : col. ill. 523.7 CO

Cole, Michael D. Venus, the second planet.Berkeley Heights, NJ : Enslow, 2001. 48 p. : ill. (mostly col.), map. 523.42 CO Cooper, Christopher (Christopher E.)The solar system .Austin, Tex. : Raintree Steck-Vaughn, c2001. p. cm. 523.2 CO

Couper, Heather.DK space encyclopedia / Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest ; in association with the Rose Center for Earth and Space at the American Museum of Natural History. New York, NY : DK Pub., 1999. 304 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm. + 1 computer optical disc (4 3/4 in.) 520 CO

Gallant, Roy A. Earth's place in space / by Roy A. Gallant. New York : Benchmark Books, 1999. p. cm. 525 GA

Gallant, Roy A.The life stories of stars.Tarrytown, NY : Marshall Cavendish-Benchmark Books, 2000. 80 p. : illus 523.8 GA

Gallant, Roy A.When the sun dies. New York : Marshall Cavendish, 1999. 128 p. : ill. ; 24 cm. 523.7 GA

Hartmann, William K. Cycles of fire; stars, galaxies and the wonder of deep space. Paintings by William K. Hartman and Ron Miller with Pamela Lee and Tom Miller. Workman [c1987]  189p col illus 523.8 HA

Jayawardhana, Ray  Star factories : the birth of stars and planets. Austin, Tex. : Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 2001. p. cm. 523.8 JA

Landau, Elaine. Jupiter / Elaine Landau. New York : Franklin Watts, c1999. 63 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 25 cm. 523.45 LA

Landau, Elaine.  Mars. New York : Franklin Watts, 1999. p. cm. 523.43 LA

Landau, Elaine. Saturn .  New York : Franklin Watts, 1999. 63 p. : ill. (mostly col.) 523.46 LA

Man, John, Comets, meteors, and asteroids / John Man. 1941- New York, N.Y. : DK Pub., 2001. 96 p. : ill. (some col.), col. maps ; 23 cm. 523.6 MA

Miller, Ron, Jupiter / Ron Miller. 1947- Brookfield, Conn. : Twenty-First Century Books, c2002. 72 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 22 x 29 cm. 523.45 MI

Miller, Ron, The sun. 1947- Brookfield, Conn. : Twenty-first Century Books, c2002. 64 p. : ill.  523.7 MI

Pasachoff, Jay M. A field guide to the stars and planets. With monthly star maps and atlas charts by Wil Tirion. Houghton Mifflin, 1992. 502p illus (part col) REF 523 PA

Poynter, Margaret.Killer asteroids. Springfield, N.J., U.S.A. : Enslow Publishers, c1996. 48 p. : ill. (some col.), col. map ; 24 cm. 523.5 PO Vogt, Gregory. The solar system : facts and exploration / Gregory L. Vogt. Twenty-First Century Books, 1995. 96 p. : ill. (some col.) 523.2 VO

Seymour, Simon. Destination, space / Seymour Simon. [New York, N.Y.] : HarperCollins Publishers, c2002. 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 26 cm. 520 SI

Spangenburg, Ray, A look at Saturn .1939- New York : Franklin Watts, c2001. 112 p. : col. ill. ; 24 cm. 523.46 SP

Spangenburg, Ray, Mercury  1939- New York : F. Watts, c2001. 63 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 24 cm. 523.41 SP

Spangenburg, Ray,  The Sun. 1939- New York : F. Watts, c2001. 63 p. : col. ill., map ; 24 cm. 523.7 SP

Spangenburg, Ray, Venus. 1939- New York : Franklin Watts, c2001. p. cm. 523.42 SP

Standage, Tom. The Neptune file : a story of astronomical rivalry and the pioneers of planet hunting . New York : Walker, c2000. x, 240 p. : ill. ; 21 cm. 523.48 ST

Stewart, Melissa. Uranus. New York : Franklin Watts, 2002. 63 p. : ill. (some col.), ports. 523.47 ST

Walsh Shepherd, Donna  Earth / [by] Donna Walsh Shepherd. New York : Franklin Watts, 2002. 63 p. : ill. (some col.), maps. 525 WA

Walz-Chojnacki, Greg. Comet! : the story behind Halley's comet / by Greg Walz-Chojnacki. 1954- Milwaukee, WI : AstroMedia/Gareth Stevens, 1985. 64 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 28 cm. 523.6 WA

Wilsdon, Christina.The solar system : an A-Z guide / by Christina Wilsdon. New York : Franklin Watts, 2000. 96p. : illus 520.3 WI

Zim, Herbert Spencer. Stars : a guide to the constellations, sun, moon, planets, and other features of the heavens / by Herbert S. Zim and Robert H. Baker ; illustrated by James Gordon Irving. New York : Golden Press ; Racine, Wis. : Western Pub. Co., 1985. 160 p. : ill. (some col.) 523 ZI

Pathfinder - http://www.howard.k12.md.us/Glenwood/media/AstronomyWebsites.html

IMovie Software

Computers

 

Instructional Roles:

            The LMS has collaborated with the English and Science teachers to create a lesson that is cross-curricular.

            Science teacher has previously and recently discussed a variety of elements that are to be researched re: planets. Provided students with a Rubric.

            English teacher has previously and recently discussed what elements make a good persuasive argument. Provided students with a Rubric.

            Library media specialist discusses non-fiction sources, citations, facilitates research, discusses video camera use and iMovie editing (including design elements, cutting techniques, sound.)

            Activity will need to span several days in order to complete.

 

Activities and Procedures for Completion:

            The LMS introduces the lesson by discussing the end product of the assignment: a 5 minute commercial advertising their planet as the BEST VACATION SPOT EVER.

            Day 1: Media Center The LMS has invited the science class into the media center to research the elements and characteristics of each of the planets.  The science teacher has provided a list of the characteristics for each planet for the students to locate and has designated how many students will work in each planet group; ideally 3 per planet. 

            The LMS discusses which sources to use, where to find them, and provides a guideline for citing the sources. While discussing, the LMS is asking the students where they think the information would be found in the media center, how they knew that information and if they can remember any other subject areas. The LMS discusses the importance of citation and models how to create a citation. Each of the students will have a non-fiction book and help the LMS place the correct pieces of information into the citation format on an easel.  The students will be able to look at the title page, etc along with the class and have the opportunity to examine four books placed on the table before they arrived for class.

            Within the groups, the students divide evenly the characteristics each will research and cite. Students locate materials, research, take notes and create a bibliography of sources used.

            Day 2: In Classroom The English teacher discusses how to write a persuasive speech by using the characteristics of the planets, within their groups, to create a vacation commercial. The teacher provides the students with a rubric of elements to include when persuasive writing.  Requests students to bring in props for next class in Media Center. A written version of the commercial is produced.

            Day 3: Media Center The LMS provides each group with a video camera.  The LMS briefly discusses the various parts of the camera. The students record their commercials in the media center.  The LMS also provides the students with the rubric for the iMovie so that they are aware of the elements before they record the action. The LMS provides constant assistance during this process.

            Day 4: Media Center The LMS has transferred all video to iMovie in computer lab.  LMS presents tutorial of iMovie on data-projector for all to see. The students edit their commercials. The LMS provides constant assistance during this process.

            Day 5: In Classroom or Media Center:  The students display the iMovie commercials on the data-projector.  At the end, the audience votes on to which planet sounds the best to travel.  The planet group that receives the most votes gets a free ice cream ticket for lunch.

 

Evaluation:

The students will locate sources and information and take notes on characteristics of their planet. The students will create a bibliography of sources cited. The students will write a persuasive script for a commercial using those characteristics.  The students will use a video camera and editing software to finish commercial.

 

The science teacher will use the science rubric for evaluation and assessment.  The English teacher will use the persuasive argument rubric for evaluation and assessment.  The LMS will collect the citation bibliography for evaluation and assessment. The LMS will evaluate and assess the iMovie editing process.

 

Follow-Up:

            The LMS could read aloud a short story on traveling to another planet: Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury.

            The LMS will have displayed during media time the following books about life on other planets:

Dick, Steven J. Life on other worlds : the 20th-century extraterrestrial life debate

Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 1998. xiii, 290 p. : ill. ; 24 cm. 576.8 DI

Fradin, Dennis B. Is there life on Mars? / Denniss Brindell Fradin ; illustrated with full-color and black-and-white prints and photographs. New York : McElderry Books, 1999. 136 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm. 919.9 FR

Jakosky, Bruce M.The search for life on other planets. Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, c1998. ix, 326 p. : ill.

Jackson, Ellen B. Looking for life in the universe : the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, 1943- Boston : Houghton Mifflin, 2002. 57 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 23 cm. 576.8 JAC

Koerner, David  Here be dragons : the scientific quest for extraterrestrial life.

New York : Oxford University Press, 2000. 264 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 24 cm. 576.8 KO

McDonald, Kim. Life in outer space : the search for extraterrestrials.

Austin, TX : Raintree Steck-Vaughn, c2001. 64 p. : ill. (some col.), col. map 21 cm. 576.8 MC

 Poynter, Margaret. Cosmic quest : searching for intelligent life among the stars. New York : Atheneum, 1984. xiii, 124 p. : ill. ; 22 cm. 574.999 Po

Shapiro, Robert, Planetary dreams : the quest to discover life beyond earth .  1935- .New York : J. Wiley, c1999. xiv, 306 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 24 cm. 576.8 SH

Ward, Peter Douglas, Rare earth : why complex life is uncommon in the universe. 1949- . New York : Copernicus, c2000. xxviii, 333 p. : ill. ; 25 cm. 576.8 WA

 

 

 

Rubric #3: iMovie elements

IMovie Elements

0-5

6-10

11-15

Smoothness

Information presented in a logical and very interesting sequence.

 

Information is not presented logically.

Information follows a logical progression. Fairly smooth editing of sequences or sections.

Information is logical and interesting. Smoothly edited. Sequence is appropriate and keeps attention.

Introduction

Was there a clear and evident introduction of the theme and content of the project. Is there an effective "grabbing" of the audience.

 

Introduction is not evident.

Theme and content are clear and evident.

Grabs the attention of the audience.  Directs the audiences attention. Is clearly an introduction to the commercial.

Use of Resources: (sound, transitions)

Did they integrate into the presentation or act "tacked on?"

Use of sound and transitions are lacking or inappropriate.

Use of sound and transitions are appropriate and not overwhelming.

Use of sound and transitions add to the persuasive argument and enhance the production.