The "Final" for the Course is a Project

Hello Parents!

After visiting with Ms. Scalet for her approval on doing this project in lieu of a comprehensive final over material covered since January, this is what I am assigning your children beginning tomorrow. We will be working on this in class beginning Thursday, and will continue working on it in class until we begin doing presentations on Tuesday, May 23rd-Wednesday, May 24th. I highly recommend that your child choose the option (A, B, or C) that he/she is most comfortable doing. I will need a decision by Thursday as to what your child will be doing. I also need for you to copy and sign the form they are bringing home to let me know that you are aware of their decision, and will be providing materials (if choosing a poster board or model). Materials will need to be at school by Monday!!!!!!!

Option A: Poster Board with information (type-written size 14 font, Times New Roman, and double-spaced). The information is coming from requirements listed on the attached form. The poster should have a title, be bright and colorful, have pictures representative of the planet your child is researching, and pictures should be labeled (what is shown in them). Basically, the report is being attached to the poster by pictures the report discusses.

Option B: Power Point Presentation: The slides must include all of the information you were required to find in your research including pictures to help the class know about your planet. Be sure to put a title on the Power Point.

Option C: Model of the planet with a typed report (Times New Roman, size 14 font, and double-spaced). The planet should show the characteristics of the planet assigned. It may be made of styrofoam, modeling clay, or any other building material approved by the teacher (please ask if you have an idea not mentioned).

Students were given planet names to draw from. These are the results.

Hudson-Venus

Alyssa-Uranus

Josh-Mars

Bryce-Mercury

Daniel-Neptune

Malarie-Saturn

Connor-Jupiter

I will be sending out a rubric the beginning of next week.

PLANET RESEARCH

Topics to Research and Include in Your Report:
When you write your report, try to answer as many of the following questions as you can:

• The Planet's Name: What does its name mean? Many planets were named after mythological gods.
• Position in the Solar System: Where is your planet located (for example: Mars in the fourth planet from the Sun)? How far from the Sun does it orbit? Is its orbit unusual?
• Rotation on its Axis: How long does it take for your planet to rotate on its own axis? (This is one day on Earth.)
• Size: How big is your planet? How does it rate in terms of the other planets in terms of size (is it the biggest, the smallest)? What is your planet's mass?
• Gravity: What is the force of gravity at the surface of your planet?
• Orbit: How long does it take for your planet to orbit the Sun? (This is one year on Earth.)
• Atmosphere: What is the composition of the atmosphere of your planet? Is it a thick or a thin atmosphere?
• Temperature: What is the temperature range your planet? How does this compare to the temperature on Earth?
• Composition of Your Planet and its Appearance: What type of planet is it (is it rocky or a gas giant)? What is its internal composition? What does your planet look like?
• Moons: If there are moons orbiting your planet, describe them and when they were discovered.
• Rings: If there are rings orbiting your planet, describe them and when they were discovered.
• How Would a Human Being Fare on Your Planet: On your planet, would a person choke in the atmosphere, be squashed by the extreme gravity, float with ease, freeze, burn up, or something else?
• Something Special: Is there anything special about your planet? This can often be the best part of the report, taking you off on interesting topics. For example, are there 100-year-long storms on your planet? Are there giant volcanoes? Does your planet have a very tilted axis (giving it extreme seasons)? Have spacecraft visited your planet? If so, what have they discovered?
• Discovery of Your Planet: The planets that are not visible using the naked eye were discovered after the invention of the telescope (these are Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto). Tell when your planet was discovered and by whom.

Let me know if you have questions! Thank you! Beth Stafford

Contract for Final ‘Solar System’ Project

Hello Parents!

This contract is a commitment from your child, with your input, to complete this final project of the school year for 6.3 Earth Science.  The project is worth 200 points, so it is a major grade and counts as the “Final” for this course.  Please put a check mark next to the option chosen by your child.  Please remember that depending on the option chosen, supplies may need to be purchased (parent responsibility), and will need to be at school to work with by Monday, May 15^th.  The project will be completed in class unless we need a little additional time.  If that occurs, I will let you know and the project will be brought home for completion.  Please sign and date the contract and have your child do the same.  Thank you so much!  Mrs. Stafford

­­______Option A: Poster Board with information (type-written size 14 font, Times New Roman, and double-spaced). The information is coming from requirements listed on the attached form. The poster should have a title, be bright and colorful, have pictures representative of the planet your child is researching, and pictures should be labeled (what is shown in them). Basically, the report is being attached to the poster by pictures the report discusses.

______Option B: Power Point Presentation: The slides must include all of the information you were required to find in your research including pictures to help the class know about your planet. Be sure to put a title on the Power Point.

______Option C: Model of the planet with a typed report (Times New Roman, size 14 font, and double-spaced). The planet should show the characteristics of the planet assigned. It may be made of styrofoam, modeling clay, or any other building material approved by the teacher (please ask if you have an idea not mentioned).

Student Signature____________________________    Date______________

Parent Signature__________________________   Date_______________