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Let's
Build a City In the Solar System
A WebQuest for 6th
Grade
(VA SOL 6.8: Interrelationships in Earth/Space Systems)
Designed by Jamieson
Richardson
Introduction | Task | Process
| Evaluation | Conclusion
| Credits | Teacher
Page
Back to
Main Page
Introduction
Are you interested
in the solar system?
Have you ever
wanted to travel into outer space?
Do you think
it would be cool to live on another planet?
If you answered yes to
any of these questions, NAHS wants you! NAHS stands for the National
Association for Humans in Space. They want to build the first
human city in the solar system. The city will be called Alpha.
They do not care what the cost or how long it takes. However,
they need to determine the appropriate site of their new city.
That is where your assignment begins.
NAHS wants to send you
and four other team members into the solar system to determine
the appropriate site. You will visit the other planets and their
moons. They will provide you with the transportation in a new
age space shuttle and any other materials that you may need as
long as you present them with a great site for Alpha upon your
return to Earth.
Get ready to go! You
are blasting off today...
The
Task
The ultimate task of
your trip is to determine the perfect site in the solar system
for NAHS to build Alpha. This trip is free and you will be reimbursed
for all expenses. However, NAHS requires two tasks of you upon
your return.
The first task is to
present your findings to NAHS in a PowerPoint presentation to
be done one week after your return. This presentation should:
- describe the site for
Alpha including the atmosphere and specific location.
- describe the layout
of the city or how it would be constructed.
- explain why Alpha would
be successful at this site.
- list what humans living
in Alpha would eat.
- describe how humans
would dress.
- explain the type of
shelter required for humans at this site.
- list jobs and types
of entertainment humans could participate in at this site.
- show supporting pictures
of the site.
The second task for your
team is to devise a newspaper article explaining your trip and
why people from Earth should go live at Alpha. The NAHS will
use this article as advertisement to attract the first inhabitants
for their new city. The article should be word processed and
include:
- an attractive description
of the site.
- list of entertaining
attractions for humans.
- reasons why humans would
want to come.
- photographs of what
Alpha will look like.
The
Process
The NAHS has provided
you with the following steps to help you accomplish the task.
Step one: Your teacher will assign your
travel team, which will consist of five members.
Step two: Once in your travel group, decide
what role each of you will play. The roles are:
- Journalist-gather information and be the
head editor of the newspaper article
- Colony
Expert-determine
the type of city to be built, what the homes would look like,
how humans would dress, and the layout of the city
- Geologist-describe the composition of
the planet including the soil and atmosphere
- Photographer-gather interesting pictures
of the planet, site for Alpha, and surrounding areas
- Astrologist-collect data about the planet
such as its distance from Earth and interesting history
Step 3: Print the necessary paperwork
to fill out during your space travel. This information will be
helpful when making the final decision about the site for Alpha.
Step 4:
NAHS would like
for you to visit the following sites to build your background
knowledge about the solar system. Read the information carefully.
Our
Solar System
Overview
Origin
Step 5: And the Count Down
Begins...5...4...3...2...1...Blast Off!
Visit the planets in our solar system.
Everyone should make journal entries at each planet. The Geologist
and the Astrologist should also fill out their data tables. Everyone
should always keep in mind that you are looking for a perfect
place for NAHS to build Alpha!
Step 6: Now that you have returned to Earth, discuss
with your team where you think Alpha should be built based on
the information that you gathered from your travels. Journal
entries and data tables should be looked at carefully to determine
the best site.
Step 7: Once a site has been chosen, create a PowerPoint
presentation to present to NAHS on the site and why your group
chose this site. NAHS has provided your group with the following
guidelines for creating your PowerPoint. The presentation should:
- include a minimum of 15 slides.
- use great detail to describe the site
for Alpha including the atmosphere, soil, surrounding areas,
gravity, etc.
- provide vivid pictures of the site.
- describe the history of the planet where
Alpha will be located.
- provide a description of the layout
of the city and the resources that it will offer humans.
- describe how humans will dress and what
entertainment they can participate in.
- explain why your group chose this site.
Step 8: With the journalist as the editor, write a persuasive
newspaper article for the NAHS to influence people to inhabit
Alpha. It should provide a creative and attractive description
of Alpha including the entertainment, dress, and resources for
humans. The main goal is to persuade people to leave their homes
on Earth and relocate on Alpha.
Evaluation
The following grading
standards will be used to evaluate your participation, PowerPoint
presentation, and newspaper article. The first two objectives
are based on your performance as a group. The other two objectives
are based on your individual contribution to the WebQuest.
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Beginning
1
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Developing
2
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Accomplished
3
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Exemplary
4
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Score |
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PowerPoint
Presentation |
Content
is minimal and/or several factual errors. There is no clear or
logical organizational structure. The presentation just contains
facts. The oral delivery is not smooth and the audience felt
lost. More than one of the requirements was not met. |
The
content includes essential information but with 1 or more factual
errors. For the most part, the content is logically organized.
The delivery was not smooth or transitional, but the audience
was interested. One requirement was not completely met. |
Essential
knowledge about the topic was included and the knowledge appears
to be good. The overall organization appears to be flawed although
headings and/or bulleted lists were used. The delivery went relatively
smooth and appeared to be rehearsed. The presentation was relatively
interesting. All requirements were met. |
Content
is covered in depth with details and examples. The knowledge
of the subject is excellent. The content is well organized and
uses headings and/or bulleted lists to group related materials.
The delivery was interesting, well rehearsed, and smooth. All
requirements were met and exceeded. |
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Persuasive
Newspaper Article
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The
content and organization are confusing. There seems to be no
beginning, middle, or end. There are several capitalization and
punctuation errors. The graphics do not match the text. |
The
content is well organized. For the most part, there is a clear
beginning, middle, and end. There are 1-2 capitalization and/or
punctuation errors. The graphics match the text, but there are
not enough. |
The
content is attractive and well organized. All sections have a
clear beginning, middle, and end. Capitalization and punctuation
are correct after receiving help from an adult. Graphics match
the text but there are too many. |
The
content is exceptionally attractive and well organized. There
is a clear beginning, middle, and end. Capitalization and punctuation
are correct without help from an adult. The graphics are good
and evenly distributed with the text. |
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Cooperative
Group
Work
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Rarely
listens, shares, and supports others. Is not a good team player.
Rarely provides useful ideas or focuses on the task and what
needs to be done. Often "puts down" the project and
group members. The other members usually have to check or redo
the work. |
Often
listens, shares, and supports others. Sometimes is not a good
team member. Sometimes provides useful ideas and focuses on the
task and what needs to be done. Occasionally "puts down"
the project or the work of other group members. Provides work
that sometimes needs to be checked. |
Usually
listens, shares, and supports the effort of others. Usually provides
useful ideas and is a strong group member by providing high quality
work. Rarely "puts down" others or their work. Focuses
on the task and what needs to be done most of the time. |
Always
listens, shares, and supports others. Routinely provides useful
ideas and is a definite leader by never "putting down"
the project or others. Almost always provides high quality work
and is focused on the task. |
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