Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Teacher Page

Introduction

One of the editors comes running in your office screaming "WE HAVE A JOB!" Your company has been searching for work and this absolutely great opportunity is delivered to you. An intergalactic committee of travel agents has decided that their guidebook to the solar system is hopelessly out of date. Therefore, they will select the best guidebook designed and present this group with the honorary Galaxy Award. Each company will submit their brochure before the panel. The panel will consist of teachers, parents, and students. We want to be prepared for aliens needs. How will your company meet their needs? What an opportunity to be the first company to guide visitors through our solar system! Why is this so special? You will provide the means for good relations with our next visitors and hold the amazing Galaxy Award.

Introduction Process Evaluation Conclusion Teacher Page

The Task

In order to participate in this opportunity of a lifetime, you will have to become an a solar system expert. To become a solar system expert:

Explore and research information about the the solar system.
Use the power of the internet to research the information.
Visit the school's media center or public library to gather books and resources about the solar system.
Talk with solar system experts through the internet.
Explore software that we have on campus and at the local library that has information on the solar system, such as the Grolier's Encyclopedia.
Keep a research log to record all the information you gather.

To impress the panel of judges:

Your company will put together a brochure that will include all the information that you have learned about the solar system.
Your group will present your brochure to further influence the panel.

Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Teacher Page

The Process

Step 1

To start your teacher will read to the class The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System to prepare for the study of the solar system. After the book is read, the class will discuss what they learned from the book and connect this with previous knowledge with a focus on facts.
You will view the video The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System.
The teacher will use the software application Inspiration to web all the information the students know about the solar system. Then the class will brainstorm and add to the web all the information they would like to learn about the solar system so they can become experts on the solar system.

Step 2

Next, you will be assigned to a cooperative group of 4.
Finally, you will have to choose your Role within your group.

Step 3

Additional Hints for Designing Your Travel Guide:
To help you begin your research for designing you brochure follow these steps.

Step 1. Check out the resources and learn all you can for your role.

Step 2. Write your facts, explanations, examples, and ideas into your daily research log. Be sure to date your log. For help and information you must go to these links and find answers to the questions in designing your travel guide (see resources below).

Step 3. Begin to write up your section in the travel guide.

Step 4. Design an illustration for your section of the travel guide.

Resources:

Starchild - a site about space for children sponsored by NASA.
Zoom Astronomy - a site to find some great research for all roles.
Amazing Space - site full of information and activities for children about space.
The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Space - website based on the story we read.
NASA for Kids - Site developed by National Aeronautical Space Administration (NASA) great research information for Children.

Step 4

Oral Presentation

After your travel guide is finished. You will present your guide to the class with a judging panel present made up of (students, teachers, parents). This panel will award the group with the best brochure. Please refer to the scoring guide for preparing this presentation.

To impress the panel of judges:

Your group will put together the Travel Guide that will include all the information that you learned about the solar system and illustrations.
You need to have the Travel Guide completed prior to the presentation and have it as a reference for the oral presentation.

Step 5

Self Evaluation
(The following questions should be answered in your Research Log)

Self Reflection:

How did this experience change your knowledge of the solar system?
Did you find the answers to your brainstorm questions?
What did you learn from completing this WebQuest?
What would you change in this WebQuest to improve it?

Collaboration Reflection:

Did you feel that your group worked cooperatively?
Did everyone stay on task during group meeting times?
Did everyone complete their work on time for making the travel guide?
Did you enjoy working as a group for putting the complete travel guide and organizing the oral presentation?

Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Teacher Page

Evaluation

Navigator's Scoring Guide

	Not Meeting Standard 1	Developing toward Standard 2	Accomplished Standard 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Daily Research Log Content	Entries are vague	Entries contain little Detail	Entries contain considerable detail, simple facts, and explanation.	Entries are complete, based on fact, details, rich examples, and explanations.
Entries	Very Few Entries	Entries for 1/2 the dates need to complete this project	Entries for at least 3/4 of the dates needed to complete the project	Entries for each date
Guidebook Brochure Section Content	describes only one element of the solar system. Description is missing important information and detail. Some information is incorrect. A title and/or illustration for the section are missing. task should be repeated.	describes at least three of the major elements of the solar system (the sun, planets, and the moons). Description needs more detail how elements are related and located is not complete A title and an illustration for this section is included. More work is needed	describes all the major elements of the solar system (sun, planets and their moons). Description is complete. tells how these elements are related A title and an illustration for the section is included.	describes all the major elements of the solar system (sun, planets and their moons). Description is complete. tells how these elements are related A title and an illustration for the section is included. More advanced work is included. For example, "minor" elements such as comets or meteors are included.
Mechanics	Many grammatical and/or spelling errors	Several grammatical and/or spelling errors	Few grammatical and/or spelling errors Entirely in author's own words	Little or no grammatical and/or spelling errors Entirely in author's own words

Tour Guide's Scoring Guide

	Not Meeting Standard 1	Developing toward Standard 2	Accomplished Standard 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Daily Research Log Content	Entries are vague	Entries contain little Detail	Entries contain considerable detail, simple facts, and explanation.	Entries are complete, based on fact, details, rich examples, and explanations.
Entries	Very Few Entries	Entries for 1/2 the dates need to complete this project	Entries for at least 3/4 of the dates needed to complete the project	Entries for each date
Guidebook Brochure Section Content	explanations for movement, seasons, and temperature are incomplete or contain a significant amount of error. A title and/or illustration for the section are missing. task should be repeated.	partially explains the movements of Earth and how the aliens could locate it. partially explains how day and night, the seasons, and the length of the year are related to the Earth and the sun. partially explains changes in temperature over time. information contains errors and lacks detail, or the descriptions are incomplete. A title and illustration are included.	explain the movements of Earth and how the aliens could locate it. explains how day and night, the seasons, and the length of the year are related to the Earth and sun. explain changes in temperature over time. All of the information is correct. A title and illustration is included.	explain the movements of Earth and how the aliens could locate it. explains how day and night, the seasons, and the length of the year are related to the Earth and sun. explain changes in temperature over time. All of the information is correct. A title and illustration is included. descriptions are especially detailed, creative, and accurate.
Mechanics	Many grammatical and/or spelling errors	Several grammatical and/or spelling errors	Few grammatical and/or spelling errors Entirely in author's own words	Little or no grammatical and/or spelling errors Entirely in author's own words

Traffic Controller's
Scoring Guide

	Not Meeting Standard 1	Developing toward Standard 2	Accomplished Standard 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Daily Research Log Content	Entries are vague	Entries contain little Detail	Entries contain considerable detail, simple facts, and explanation.	Entries are complete, based on fact, details, rich examples, and explanations.
Entries	Very Few Entries	Entries for 1/2 the dates need to complete this project	Entries for at least 3/4 of the dates needed to complete the project	Entries for each date
Guidebook Brochure Section Content	does not use a real-life space exploration event in the section, but includes a made-up event. The task was not completed. A title and/or illustration for the section are missing. task should be repeated.	describes at least one space exploration event. The description lacks detail (includes general comments such as "we went to the moon," or "watch out for the space shuttle"). Other human made objects are not included in the description. More work is needed. A title and illustration are included.	describes any recent or upcoming space exploration event. The description is detailed and includes such things as its purpose, timing, and path through the solar system. The description includes other human made objects in space such as satellites. A title and illustration is included.	describes any recent or upcoming space exploration event. The description is detailed and includes such things as its purpose, timing, and path through the solar system. The description includes other human made objects in space such as satellites. More advanced work is included. Give aliens a history of space explorations and what they would have seen during various times in history. A title and illustration is included.
Mechanics	Many grammatical and/or spelling errors	Several grammatical and/or spelling errors	Few grammatical and/or spelling errors Entirely in author's own words	Little or no grammatical and/or spelling errors Entirely in author's own words

Concierge's Scoring Guide

	Not Meeting Standard 1	Developing toward Standard 2	Accomplished Standard 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Daily Research Log Content	Entries are vague	Entries contain little Detail	Entries contain considerable detail, simple facts, and explanation.	Entries are complete, based on fact, details, rich examples, and explanations.
Entries	Very Few Entries	Entries for 1/2 the dates need to complete this project	Entries for at least 3/4 of the dates needed to complete the project	Entries for each date
Guidebook Brochure Section Content	The section is incomplete or one element of the daytime or the nighttime sky is included, but not all. There is not enough detail. The connection between movements of the Earth and changes in what can be seen in the sky is not explained. There is no title or illustration. task should be repeated.	describes at least one element of the daytime and nighttime skies. Some of the information is incorrect, or the description is missing obvious or important elements. Some understanding is shown of the connection between the movements of the Earth and changes in what can be seen in the sky. More work is needed. A title and illustration are included.	describes the contents of the daytime sky (sun, moon, some planets) and the nighttime sky (moon, planets, stars, constellations). The description is accurate and complete. gives an accurate explanation of the movement of celestial bodies as seen from Earth. A title and illustration is included.	describes the contents of the daytime sky (sun, moon, some planets) and the nighttime sky (moon, planets, stars, constellations). The description is accurate and complete. gives an accurate explanation of the movement of celestial bodies as seen from Earth. More advanced work is included. For example, the Earth/sun description includes ideas such as the different timing of seasons in the north and south, and the sky descriptions include seasonal or occasional events. A title and illustration is included.
Mechanics	Many grammatical and/or spelling errors	Several grammatical and/or spelling errors	Few grammatical and/or spelling errors Entirely in author's own words	Little or no grammatical and/or spelling errors Entirely in author's own words

Oral Presentation Scoring Guide