SONG OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM

A WebQuest for 5th Grade (Science)

Designed by

Laurie A. Lewis
bakerpark@adelphia.net

Introduction

So, you think you are from the planet Earth? Well, most of you are wrong! You are now from one of the other eight planets in our Solar System. Not only that, but you are about to attend a conference on Earth where you will represent your planet. During the conference, you will tell the representatives from the other planets what you think is important for them to know about your planet. While the delegates from the other planets are preparing for their visit, the few Earthlings still among you are getting ready to welcome your interplanetary guests, and provide them with an introduction to what to expect from the planet Earth.

When the conference was still in the planning stages, the delegation from Jupiter suggested that, as part of each presentation, the representatives from each planet should write and perform an original song to the tune of a well-known Earth folk song, (in deference to the planet hosting the conference) in order to entertain as well as inform the other delegates about their planet. The conference Organizing Committee thought that this was a splendid idea, and they are looking forward to hearing your cosmic creations. Finally, each delegation will be exhibiting the flag of their planet. If you forget to bring a flag, no problem, you will be supplied with materials to construct one.

Oh, one more thing. Since the representative from the Sun is recovering from heat stroke and can’t be with us, the conference planners have asked the conference chairperson – Your Teacher- to grace the conference with a song about the Sun.

The Task

The class will be broken down into groups of three by your teacher. Your teacher will then transform all the groups but one into beings from other planets. Then, each group will pick a song title from a hat, and will be given a tape of the music that they have randomly chosen. After this has happened, each group will be given specific questions to answer about their planet. Once you have divided the questions among the members of your group and answered them through the use of the Internet, you will get together as a group and write your presentation and your song for the conference.

The presentations will be given in class, and you may wear costumes that you think are appropriate for your planet, if you so desire. The presentations will be videotaped for future viewing. Each group will also be designing a flag for their planet. The materials to make the flag will be provided for you in class.

The Process

1. First you will be assigned to a group of three students.

2. Each group will choose a representative to pick the name of a planet, and the name of a song, out of a hat. Each group will be given a tape of the music that they have chosen. (The music teacher will select American folk songs to play on the piano from the sheet music that the school has purchased, and will record each song.)

3. Then, the class will go to the computer lab, where each of you will have your own computer.

4. Each of you should then click on the picture below to go to the page containing the questions that your group must answer about your planet and print them out.

5. You should then get together in your group and divide up the questions that must be answered among the group members in a fair and even manner.

6. Once you are in your group, write down next to each question which student is responsible for answering it. This information should be shown to the teacher as soon as it has been finished.

7. Each of you will then go to your own computer, and click on the picture below to access the web sites you are to use to research and answer your assigned questions. The questions should be answered correctly and thoroughly.

8. Please give the written answers to your teacher for grading when you have completed the questions.

9. Once all the students in your group have finished researching and answering their assigned questions, your group should get together and work on designing your group presentation, including your song. Please write and deliver your presentation as if you are actually from your assigned planet.

10. Your presentation should be between 5 and 8 minutes in length, and the song should be no longer than the music on the tape provided. Each group member should give a portion of the presentation and sing the group’s planet song.

11. You must display a picture of your planet, and a drawing of the symbol of your planet during your presentation. You may include other visual aids, such as pictures, graphs and charts, but you are not required to do so.

12. You may wear costumes that you think are appropriate for delegates from your planet, but it is not required.

13. Once your group has finished composing your presentation and song, you should let your teacher know and you will be given materials in class to design and create a flag to display during the conference.

14. The flag must contain features (i.e. symbols, pictures or designs) that represent your planet.

15. Once you have finished your presentation, song, and flag, we will convene the conference in class. During the conference, each group will display their planet’s flag, and each group member will present a portion of the information on his or her planet, and sing the group’s planet song.

16. A parent volunteer will tape the conference for future viewing by the class.

Evaluation__________

There will be both an individual grade and a group grade for this project.

Individual Points

Written answers to questions	40 pts
Group participation grade	10 pts
Individual presentation grade	30 pts
Total	80 pts

Group Points

Group presentation grade	30 pts
Planet song	20 pts
Planet flag	10 pts
Total	60 pts

TOTAL PROJECT POINTS: 140 pts

Grades will be determined as follows:

Standards for Your Individual Grade

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Written answers to planet questions: All questions are answered correctly and thoroughly.	All Questions are not answered. Those answered are answered incompletely, incorrectly and without detail.	All questions are answered but some are answered incompletely and incorrectly. No detail is given.	All questions are answered and most of them are answered completely and correctly with some details.	All questions are answered completely, correctly, and in some depth with attention to detail.
Student presents his or her information to the class correctly and in a clear, well-organized and interesting way.	Student fails to present most of their information to the class.	Student presents some of their information to the class, but much of it is incorrect and confusing.	Student presents most of their information to the class and most of it is clear, correct, well organized and presented in an interesting way.	Student presents all of their information to the class in a correct, well-organized, clear and interesting way.
Student fully participates in group activities, and does his or her fair share of the questions, the presentation, writing the planet song, and creating the flag.	Student fails to participate in group activities, and does little or no work.	Students participates somewhat in group activities and does a small portion of work.	Student participates in group activities, and does a substantial share of the work.	Student participates enthusiastically in group activities, and does a fair share of the work.

Standards For Your Group Grade

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Presentation: Information is presented correctly, clearly, in a logical sequence, and in an interesting way.	The information is presented incorrectly and is difficult to understand.	Most of the information presented is correct, but is not presented in a logical sequence and is hard to follow.	All of the information presented is correct, most of it is easy to understand, and it is presented in an interesting manner.	All of the information presented is correct, the presentation is easy to understand and is presented in an interesting manner.
The planet song is creative, has correct information in it, and is sung in a way that can be understood by the class.	The planet song is not completed.	The planet song has information in it that is not correct, and it cannot be understood by the class.	Most of the information in the planet song is correct, and for the most part it can be understood and is creative.	All of the information in the planet song is correct, and it can be clearly understood by the class and is very creative.
The Flag of the planet contains features that represent the planet.	The flag of the planet is not fully completed.		The flag of the planet is completed but does not contain features that are representative of the planet	The flag of the planet is completed and contains features that are representative of the planet.

Conclusion_________________

I am sure that you have all done a great job of representing your planet, and have learned a lot about our solar system. Without a doubt, this activity has made you anxious to find out more about other topics concerning outer space. You can do so by visiting the links listed below. Thank you for doing such great work!

Amazing Space: This page is based on the discoveries of the Hubble Telescope.

http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/

Earth From Space Astronaut’s Views of the Home Planet: NASA maintains this site of pictures of the earth taken from space by the astronauts.

http://earth.jsc.nasa.gov/sseop/efs/

European Space Agency: What are the Europeans up to in exploring space? http://www.rssd.esa.int/index.php

Everything space . . . all in one place! The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama maintains this site that discusses the Center’s Space Camps for kids! http://www.spacecamp.com/spacecamp/

Exploring the Planets: This page is maintained by the National Air and Space Museum. http://www.nasm.edu/ceps/etp/

For Kids Only – Earth Science Enterprise: This site is devoted to examples of how NASA uses its technology to study the earth. http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/

Life On Other Planets in the Solar System: The Wayne County Michigan Regional Educational Service Agency developed this site on extraterrestrial life. http://www.resa.net/nasa/xlife_intro.htm

SETI Institute: The SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute has two main missions, to search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and “to explore and explain the nature and prevalence of life in the universe.”

http://www.seti-inst.edu/

Solar System Cyberhunt: This page is maintained by ICTeachers Online an educational newsletter written by teachers in the U.K. for other teachers. There are ten questions about the solar system in the Cyberhunt, and each question has a link after it where you are to go and read a site to find the answer. At the end of the Cyberhunt you are directed to the NASA Kids page where you can submit their own space questions and possibly receive and answer from NASA!

http://www.icteachers.co.uk/children/cyberhunts/solar_system/sosystem.htm

The Moon Shop: This web site claims to legitimately sell property on the MOON! What will they think of next?

http://www.moonshop.com/

Credits ________________

The picture of the Solar System on the Title page is from: Windows to the Universe: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/

Last updated on April 22, 2004. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page