This lesson was developed as an assignment for Computers in the Classroom at the University of Richmond. In this class we are continually challenged to use the technology that is available to us. Other assignments include developing Computer Tutorials and Multimedia Tutorials.

This WebQuest is designed for studying our solar system. The students are sent on a journey for the National Association for Humans in Space, NAHS, in order to determine where they should build the first city in space called Alpha. Throughout the journey the students visit the eight other planets in our solar system. They gather information about each planet using data tables and journal entries. Upon their return to Earth, they must decide the best location for Alpha and then present it to the NAHS in a PowerPoint presentation. They must also create a persuasive newspaper article that NAHS can use to influence people to go inhabit their new city.

This lesson will work best with sixth graders, who have some basic knowledge of our solar system. It can be used as a beginning or ending to a unit about the solar system. As the beginning of a unit, the students will gain exposure to each planet and be introduced to basic knowledge. As the ending of a unit, the students can build on knowledge they have gained throughout the earlier lessons. This will help them expand and apply their knowledge in a different and more creative way than learning basic facts.

It also integrates some language arts skills due to the tasks that are required.

To complete the tasks, the students will need to have knowledge of PowerPoint and a word processing application.

This lesson is designed to meet the Virginia Standards of Learning Science 6.8 Interrelationships in Earth/Space Systems.

It states that "the student will investigate and understand the organization of the solar system and the relationships among the various bodies that comprise it. Key concepts include:

• the sun, moon, Earth, other planets and their moons, meteors, asteroids, and comets;
• relative size of and distance between planets;
• the role of gravity;
• revolution and rotation"

It also meets the following English Standards of Learning:

English 6.1
"Students will analyze oral participation in small-group activities:

• communicate as leader and contributor.
• summarize and evaluate group activities."

English 6.6
"Students will write narratives, descriptions, and explanations.

• establish central ideas, organization, elaboration, and unity.
• select vocabulary and information to enhance the central idea, tone, and voice."

Other objectives that are met by this lesson are:

• cooperatively working in groups.
• giving oral presentations.
• demonstrating skill of PowerPoint and word processor.

This lesson is designed to last for several class periods. Depending on the amount of computers available and the amount of class time given to complete the research, it can last from three days to one week.

The Student Process has great detail for use by the teacher and the students. Please keep in mind however, that it is your job to assign computer time, the order of the presentations, and the members of each group. It is suggested that the groups have a variety of skill levels and motivation. There needs to be at least one highly skilled and motivated person per group.

You will also need knowledge of PowerPoint and a word processing application. This will be helpful if students have questions while preparing their presentations.

The tasks for this lesson could be modified depending on the knowledge of the students. One task could be setting up or constructing a model of the city with a poster to describe it. Another task could be making a brochure for people wanting to visit Alpha.

This lesson requires the following materials:

• PowerPoint software
• Word processing software
• Multimedia Data Projector connected to computers with Internet access
• Screen or blank wall

The websites needed for this lesson are listed in the Process. They follow the same pattern for each planet.

Only one teacher is needed to implement this lesson. However, a technology teacher or resource teacher could be on hand in case of complications or technical difficulties.

The student evaluation provides a way for the presentation and article to be graded. The evaluation is as follows:

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
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.
Persuasive Newspaper Article	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.
Cooperative Group Work	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 definitely leader by never "putting down" the project or others. Almost always provides high quality work and is focused on the task.

Four grades will be given for this lesson. Each part listed above should receive a grade based on the numbers above. Then an average should be taken of those three to determine the overall forth grade for this lesson. An example is shown below:

PowerPoint presentation: 2=C
Newspaper Article: 3=B
Group Work: 4=A
Final Grade: 3=B

These grades will be given for each student. The only grades that will be different for each student are the Group Work and Final Grade. The first two should be the same.

This lesson will work great to increase students higher level thinking skills. It will spark their interest and allow them to apply their knowledge. The best element of this lesson is the creativity and freedom that each group will get.

Credits & Copyright

This WebQuest was created by preservice teachers in the Education Department at University of Richmond.

The original document for this WebQuest was created by Jamieson Richardson during the summer semester of 2001. This WebQuest was created in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a course on integrating technology across the curriculum.

Assistance for this project was provided by Kimberlye P. Joyce. This site is maintained as an interactive resource for educators, students and parents by Kimberlye P. Joyce, M.Ed. and Patricia Stohr-Hunt, Ph.D.. All inquiries and comments regarding this document should be mailed to them at: kjoyce@richmond.edu and pstohrhu@richmond.edu.

Copyright Notice © 1999-2004

Teachers may adapt this lesson for classroom use only or per variations that have been suggested. The reproduction of any portion of this site for an entire school or school system is strictly prohibited. No part of this publication may be transmitted, stored, recorded or published in any form without written permission from Kimberlye P. Joyce, M.Ed. or Patricia Stohr-Hunt, Ph.D.. Modifications, updates and changes to the actual site by making adaptations to create a new genre, theme or grade level, in which a new site is developed for publication to the WWW, must also be approved. Appropriate citations and links to the original document must be included within the new site.

References

The following sites offered a great deal of information and help to the designer of this web page. Thank you so much for the use of images, backgrounds, and information.

Hee Yun's Graphic Collection. (1996, September 12). Korea. Retrieved April 2, 2001,
from the World Wide Web: http://soback.kornet.nm.kr/~pixeline/heeyun/graphics.html

Rubistar. (2001). Hight Plains Regional Technology in Education Consortium. Retrieved April 2, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://rubistar.4teachers.org/

Yahoo Picture Gallery. (2000). Yahoo! Inc. Retrieved April 2, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://gallery.yahoo.com/