It’s a Planet!!!

In this project we will be taking a trip through the solar system! Your project will be to research a planet. Your finished product will consist of 4 parts: poster board, paper, resources, and presentation. We will be using the laptops to gather information on 10/13-10/15 and we will be using class time on 10/18 to finish. The project will be worth 100 pts. The project will be due at the end of class on Monday October 18, 2004. Presentations will be on Tuesday October 19, 2004. Good luck!

Poster board: (25 pts) should include (but not limited to) the following:

Picture of your planet (with moons, rings, if needed)

Names of moons (if needed)

Important information:

1. Name of planet, what does it’s name mean

2. Names of moons, rings

3. Who discovered your planet

4. How long does it take to travel around the sun

5. How long does it take to complete 1 day on the planet

6. How far away from the sun is the planet

7. Other

Should be colorful and Factual

Have a large Title (which should include the name of the planet)

Paper (50 pts) should include (but is not limited to) the following:

Min. of one page

Needs to include name of planet for its title

Information to be included

Name of planet, how did the planet get its name, what does

Its name mean?

When was the planet discovered? Who discovered it?

Number of moons and names of the moons (if it has moons)

Number to rings, what are the rings made of (if it has rings)

Distance from sun

How long does it take to rotate? Revolve around sun?

What types of gases does the planet have?

Is it a terrestrial or a Jovian planet? How do you know?

Does you planet have a solid surface or gaseous surface?

Is your planet capable of having life?

What types of features will you find on the planet?

Activity on the planet? (example: storms, volcanoes, water?)

Have we visited the planet with space probes? If yes, when

And what were the names of the probes?

Anything else you find of importance!

Resources (5 pts)

Should include at least 3 different sources

Example: books, magazines, Internet

Presentation (20 pts)

Everyone must participate!

Presentation will include

Description of poster board

Facts about the planet

Time limit: 3-5 minutes!

Do not read from you paper

You may use note cards like before

Be creative; make sure you know your information!

Web Sites to get you started:

NASA Kids: Planets http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/SolarSystem/Planets/

The Nine Planets: www.nineplanets.org

Welcome to the Planets: http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/welcome.htm

Athena: http://vathena.arc.nasa.gov/curric/space/planets/index.html

SSE: Solar System Exploration: http://sse.jpl.nasa.gov