Transcript 8th Grade 4th Quarter Project

TH
8
TH
4
GRADE
QUARTER PROJECT
Due: May 15th, 2013
Introduction
You have been selected to help design a
vacation package to one of the planets in Earth's
solar system. You and your team will create a
company that will put together a vacation
package that can safely deliver your clients to
your vacation destination. Your team consists of
a rocket specialist, spacesuit designer, travel
agent and astronomer.
Task
Your company's goals include the following:
• Research the planet, identify the challenges it presents to living
things, and create solutions to overcome the challenges.
• Produce a vacation package highlighting the special features of
the planet.
• Invent a spacesuit that meets the basic requirements for living
things on your particular planet and is capable of enduring the trip.
• Generate a travel brochure advertising the vacation in detail.
• Design a rocket that has the ability to support life and special
features that would enable it to complete the vacation.
• Voyage to your planet if possible (Planet Walk field trip).
• Present your vacation package to a group of investors interested
in providing funding for your project.
• Be prepared to answer any questions they may ask.
Process
Group / Individual Work
1. Complete the Project Profile worksheet.
2. Brainstorm the needs of living things.
3. Investigate the General Sites found in the resource section.
Once you have found a site that contains information about your
planet, complete The Needs of Living Things Framework.
4. Research the General Sites. Then complete the Physical
Characteristics Form.
5. Using the Needs of Living Things Framework and the Physical
Characteristics form, establish a list of challenges your planet
presents. Brainstorm a list of solutions. Save these notes for future
reference.
6. Based on your destination and the solutions you have proposed,
discuss the special features you want to include in the vacation
package. Be sure to take notes and save them for future
reference.
Breakout Sessions
7. Print a copy of your job description: Astronomer, Travel Agent, Spacesuit Designer, or Rocket
Specialist. Read the requirements carefully.
8. Go to the resource section and search under your topic being careful to take notes as
needed.
9. Sketch a rough draft of your plan.
10. Occupational Conference: At this point you will attend a meeting with others who share
your occupation. The purpose of this meeting is to compare notes, discuss challenges, and
offer encouragement.
11. Company Meeting: Meet with the members of your group to update each other on your
findings. Be sure your plan is flowing and that the work you are doing compliments that of the
others in your group.
12. It is now time for you to focus and begin creating your final product. Refer to your job
description and the rubric to determine your progress. Maintain open communication with the
rest of your Company to assure that your final project is a package and not separate products.
13. Company Meeting: The purpose of this meeting is to plan the presentation of your
vacation package. Keep in mind that you will be presenting to investors who are interested in
funding your project. Your must persuade, inform, and sell them your idea.
14. Presentations. Be professional, speak in a clear voice, and use visual aides to help present
your idea.
15. Turn in summary of everything you did to contribute to the team. Minimum of 1page, and must include separate bibliography of resources used.
Resources: General Solar System Info
http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/homepage.html
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/solar_system.html
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level2/solar_system.html
http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/billa/tnp/nineplanets.html
http://www.space.com/
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/solarsystem/
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/index.cfm
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
http://images.jsc.nasa.gov/luceneweb/whatsnew.jsp
http://friends-partners.org/friends/index.html
http://www.imageworksstudio.com/index.php?page=Exhibit_Design
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/index.html
Resources: Sites for Astronomers
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa
http://abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1696218.htm
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/5-8/features
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/index.cfm
http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/special/planets.htm
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/homepage.htm
http://www.windows.ucar.edu
http://www.nineplanets.org/
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/solar_system/
http://www.harmsy.freeuk.com/orrery.html
http://www.seasky.org/solarsystem/sky3.html
http://science.hq.nasa.gov/solar_system/index.html
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/the_planets.htm
Resources: Sites for Travel Agents
http://www.travelco.com/theCompany/Pressreleases.asp
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/tips_menu.htm
http://www.budgettravel.com/
http://home.travelsavers.com/
http://www.freetraveltips.com/
http://www.fodors.com/wire/archives/001901.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/wire/archives/001803.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/wire/archives/cat_travel_tips.cfm
http://www.freetraveltips.com/Packing/
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html
http://www.freetraveltips.com/Before/
http://ontariotravel.net/TcisCtrl?language=EN&site=consumers&key1=travelTools&key2=travelTips
http://www.lib.uct.ac.za/infolit/brotips.htm
www.brochure-printing-tips.com
http://www.imageworksstudio.com/index.php?page=Exhibit_Design
http://www.speedcolor.com/
Resources: Sites for Rocket Scientists
http://edspace.nasa.gov/earthcrew/news/ecn2/index.hml
http://www.nasm.si.edu
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/kliper.html
http://www.nasm.si.edu/education/cybercenter/
http://science.nasa.gov/realtime
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/teachers/rockets/rocketry.html
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/home/index.html
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=159
http://www.spacetoday.org/Rockets/X_Prize.html
http://www.spacetoday.org/Rockets/Russia/Proton300.html
http://economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=6911220
http://the-edge.blogspot.com/2005/08/new-rocket-designs.html
Resources: Sites for Spacesuit Designers
http://www.fabriclink.com/
http://www.vibrationdata.com/space/suit.htm
http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/weight/index.html
http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/models/sovietsp/sovsuits.html
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/
http://www.batnet.com/mfwright/spacesuit.html
http://www.astronautix.com/craftfam/spasuits.htm
http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0875382.html
http://www.incredible-adventures.com/space-suits-space-foods.html
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/articles/SuitSat/
http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/chameleon_suit_021106.html
http://quest.nasa.gov/space/teachers/suited/8future.html
Conclusion
Congratulations, your company is now in business! Write a
summary addressing the following questions:
1. After listening to each group's proposal, which planet
would you want to visit on vacation, and why?
2. What was the most interesting thing about your planet
you learned?
3. What part of your project do your feel went well?
4. What could you or members of your group have done
differently?
5. Offer advice to future students who may participate in the
project.
6. Peer evaluation
Rubric for grading
See Handout