Year 8 Exploring the Universe Group Assignment 1. You will be randomly assigned into groups of 3. 2. Discuss with your team to choose one of the following questions to address in your poster: 1. What is a stellar nebula and how does it form? 2. What is a supernova and how does it happen? 3. What is the Big Bang Theory of the Universe and what is the evidence for this? 4. What are spectral lines and what do these tell us about stars? 5. What is Red Shift and how is it related to the Doppler Effect? 6. What does the Sun’s life cycle look like and why does each stage take place? 7. What is a Hertzprung-Russell diagram and how does one interpret this? 3. Begin research that provides answers to your group’s question. You will use the resource books and internet to supplement the information in your reading. 4. As a group, put together relevant information that answers the question. 5. You will then create an A2 poster summarising your research. 6. You will have 6 double lessons to complete your poster. A suggested plan of work is below: a. Term 3 Week 8 i. Decide on question ii. Conduct preliminary research and potential parts to the research iii. Divide the work equally, begin on individual parts b. Term 3 Week 9 i. Continue research for individual parts ii. Come together and decide how to sequence the different parts for the poster c. Term 4 Week 1 i. Bring scissors and glue to class ii. Print and cut individual parts iii. Organise poster and paste individual parts onto the poster How to do your poster 1. All parts of the poster are to be typewritten, printed, cut and pasted onto the poster. 2. A poster of excellent quality will have the following characteristics: a. All parts are organised neatly, typewritten and pasted neatly – including the names of members in the team. b. A research question (the title of the poster) is placed prominently at the top of the poster. c. The research is organised and presented in parts, each with their own relevant subheading. d. Each part makes clear connections back to the research question. e. Various relevant visual aids (images, charts, graphs, tables, etc.) are used to support the presentation of the ideas. None of the visual aids are irrelevant. f. The language used in the poster is simple and allows a member of the public to easily understand the research findings. 3. Pay attention to the assessment criteria on the next page in order to ace this assignment! Each group will be assessed on the following criteria: Assessment Criteria 3 marks 2 marks 1 mark 0 marks Clearly written and easily understood. Some parts of questions missing. No question written. Research question is answered adequately. Connections are not clear between different sections of the poster. Research question is not adequately answered. No connections are made between different sections of the poster. Research questions is not answered at all OR poster content does not address the question. Sub-headings Utilises sub-headings that are relevant to the content presented. Utilises headings that may be irrelevant to the content presented. Sub-headings are not used. Delivery of information Utilises visual aids which support the reader’s understanding and are relevant to the content. Utilises various visual aids (images, charts, graphs, tables, etc.) to present ideas. Some visual aids are irrelevant to content. Presents ideas using text and images only. Presents ideas with text only. Organisation All parts are neatly organised and pasted, allowing the reader to easily follow the sequence of ideas. Most parts are organised neatly with a slight degree of difficulty following the sequence of ideas. Some parts are organised neatly with a moderate degree of difficulty following the sequence of ideas. Most parts are organised untidily with a high degree of difficulty following the sequence of ideas. Overall presentation allows reader to understand the ideas with some difficulty. Overall presentation allows reader to understand with much difficulty or does not allow reader to understand at all. Heading - Research Question Response to Research Question Language Research question is answered thoroughly. Connections are made with different sections to relate ideas back to the research question. Overall poster presentation allows reader to understand the ideas very easily. Total marks = 15