The Solar System

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The Solar System

• Introduction
• Task
• Resources
• Process
• Evaluation
• Conclusion
• Standards
• Citations
• Teacher Notes

• A WebQuest for 10th Grade
• (Physical Science-Basic Astronomy)
• Designed by Jennifer Boughton-boughtj_at_bgnet.bgsu
  .edu
• EDTL 695 - Summer 2008
• Creating WebQuests for the K-12 Classroom
• Based on a template from The WebQuest Page

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Introduction

• WELCOME SCIENTISTS!
• Throughout history, humans have looked to the
  heavens for answers and inspiration.
• During this journey, you will be expanding your
  knowledge of the universe, utilizing your skills
  as a scientist in order to share your newly
  acquired knowledge, and making comparisons
  between astronomy and astrology.

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Task

• Your team of scientists will be gathering data to
  answer probing questions about the galaxy in
  order to share with each other and the world.
• Your team will create a presentation which
  incorporates a visual representation of the
  information you collect.

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Resources

• Answer these questions with the help of your team
  of scientists
• And the following helpful websites
• About Space- http//space.about.com/od/solarsystem
  /a/solarsystemtour.htm
• Nine Planet- http//www.nineplanets.org
• Solar Views- http//www.solarviews.com/eng/solarsy
  s.htm
• NASA- http//www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/
  
• http//nasascience.nasa.gov/planetary-
  science
• http//solarsystem.nasa.gov/index.cfm
• http//www.nasa.gov/worldbook/solarsys
  tem_worldbook_update.html
• http//photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/index
  .html
• http//pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/
• National Geographic- http//science.nationalgeogra
  phic.com/science/space/solar-system
• Planetary Organization- http//www.planetary.org/e
  xplore/topics/groups/our_solar_system
• Solar System Net- http//www.the-solar-system.net/
  
• United States Geological Survey-
  http//astrogeology.usgs.gov/SolarSystem/
• http//planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/

PROBING QUESTIONS
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Process

• Step 1) Review the following rubric with your
  team of four scientists.
• Step 2) You and your team of four scientists will
  use the given websites to gather answers to
  the
• Probing Questions.

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Process

• Step 3) Your team of scientists will split into
  pairs
• Sensitive Scientists (2)
• Stoic Scientists (2)
• Both pairs will present their given tasks in
  tandem and include a comparison of the essential
  components of Astronomy and Astrology.

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Process

• Sensitive Scientists-
• The sensitive scientists will apply the gathered
  information to create a verbal and visual
  presentation of astrology including its
  relation to constellations, and a sample
  horoscope for each of the 12 signs of the zodiac.

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Process

• Stoic Scientists-
• The stoic scientists will apply the gathered
  information to create a verbal and visual
  presentation of our solar system including a
  scale model of all planets, a description of
  characteristics on each planet, and whether or
  not life is possible on each.

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Evaluation

• Scientists, you will be evaluated with the
  following rubric

RUBRIC
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Conclusion

• Congratulations Scientists!
• You have successfully gathered a large body of
  knowledge on our solar system, its place in the
  universe, and the difference between Astronomy
  and Astrology.
• Use this newfound wisdom well!

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StandardsFrom Ohio Academic Content Standards -
science standards (9-12)

• Explain the characteristics, cycles and patterns
  involving Earth and its place in the solar
  system.
• Explain that Earth is one of several planets to
  orbit the sun, and that the moon orbits Earth.
• Describe the characteristics of Earth and its
  orbit about the sun (e.g., three-fourths of
  Earth's surface is covered by a layer of water
  some of it frozen, the entire planet surrounded
  by a thin blanket of air, elliptical orbit,
  tilted axis and spherical planet).
• Explain that stars are like the sun, some being
  smaller and some larger, but so far away that
  they look like points of light.

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StandardsFrom Ohio Academic Content Standards -
science standards (9-12)

• Describe how objects in the solar system are in
  regular and predictable motions that explain such
  phenomena as days, years, seasons, eclipses,
  tides and moon cycles.
• Explain that gravitational force is the dominant
  force determining motions in the solar system and
  in particular keeps the planets in orbit around
  the sun.
• Compare the orbits and composition of comets and
  asteroids with that of Earth.
• Describe the effect that asteroids or meteoroids
  have when moving through space and sometimes
  entering planetary atmospheres (e.g.,
  meteor-"shooting star" and meteorite)

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StandardsFrom Ohio Academic Content Standards -
science standards (9-12)

• Explain that the universe consists of billions of
  galaxies
• that are classified by shape.
• Explain interstellar distances are measured in
  light years
• (e.g., the nearest star beyond the sun is 4.3
  light years
• away).
• Examine the life cycle of a star and predict the
  next likely
• stage of a star.
• Name and describe tools used to study the
  universe (e.g.,
• telescopes, probes, satellites and spacecraft).

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Teacher Notes

• Teachers, the stoic scientists may need
  additional supplies, such as styrofoam spheres,
  paints, wires, plaster of paris, modeling clay,
  etc.

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Citations

• About.com. (2008). Solar System Tour-Pictures and
  Facts of Our Solar System. Retrieved June 12,
  2008, from http//space.about.com/od/solarsystem/
  a/solarsystemtour.htm
• Arnett, B. (2008, February 8). The Nine Planets
  A Multimedia Tour of the Solar System-one star,
  eight planets, and more. Retrieved June 12, 2008,
  from the Nine Planets Web site
  http//www.nineplanets.org
• Hamilton, C. (2005). The Solar System. Retrieved
  June 12, 2008, from the Solar Views Web site
  http//www.solarviews.com/eng/solarsys.htm
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  (2008, June 13). Our Solar System Retrieved June
  12, 2008, from http//www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsy
  stem/
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  (2008, May 28). Planets-Science Mission
  Directorate. Retrieved June 12, 2008, from
  http//nasascience.nasa.gov/planetary-science

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Citations

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  (2008, June 13). Solar System Exploration.
  Retrieved June 12, 2008, from http//solarsystem.
  nasa.gov/index.cfm
• National Geographic Society. (2008). Solar System
  Information, Facts, News, Photos. Retrieved from
  http//science.nationalgeographic.com/science/spac
  e/solar-system
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  (2007, November 29). Solar System World Book.
  Retrieved June 12, 2008, from http//www.nasa.gov
  /worldbook/solarsystem_worldbook_update.html
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  (n.d.). PhotojournalNASAs Image Access.
  Retrieved June 12, 2008, from http//photojournal
  .jpl.nasa.gov/index.html
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  (2005, May 10). Welcome to the Planets. Retrieved
  June 12, 2008, from http//pds.jpl.nasa.gov/plane
  ts/

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Citations

• Ohio Department of Education. (2007, July 9).
  Science Academic Content Standards. Retrieved
  June 14, 2008, from http//www.ode.state.oh.us
• The Planetary Society. (2008). Explore the
  Cosmos. Retrieved June 12, 2008, from
  http//www.planetary.org/explore/topics/groups/our
  _solar_system/
• Thralow, Inc. (2001) Pictures of the Planets.
  Retrieved June 12, 2008, from the Solar System
  Web site http//www.the-solar-system.net/
• United States Geological Survey. (2008, February
  29). The Solar System. Retrieved June 12, 2008,
  from http//astrogeology.usgs.gov/SolarSystem/
• United States Geological Survey. (2008, May 5).
  Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved
  June 12, 2008 from http//planetarynames.wr.usgs.
  gov/

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Citations

• The University of Texas. (2008). Solar System
  Guide/StarDate Online. Retrieved June 12, 2008,
  from http//stardate.org/resources/ssguide/
• Walker, J. (March 1995) Solar System Live.
  Retrieved June 12, 2008, from the Solar System
  Live Web site http//www.fourmilab.ch/solar/sola
  r.html

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