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