NAME: _________________________________
Our Solar System Project
Getting Started
Before we get started on any project we should always take a look at the RUBRIC.
A rubric tells us what needs to be included in our project/report and how it will be graded.
Below is the rubric for your Our Solar System Project.
4
Title
Headings
Paragraphs
(Must include
2 paragraphs)
Picture
Captions
Table
Text Box
Neat and
Organized
3
2
1
0
Title expresses
Title expresses
Title expresses
Incorrect title.
the topic and is
the topic and is
the topic but is
The title does
creative and
creative.
not creative.
NOT tell the
original.
topic.
Headings express Headings express Headings express Headings do NOT
the main idea and the main idea and the main idea but tell the main idea.
are creative and
are creative.
are not creative.
original.
Paragraphs are
Paragraphs are
Paragraphs are
Paragraphs are
complete. They
complete.
mostly complete.
mostly
state the main
They state the
They either do not
incomplete.
idea, have at least
main idea and
include a main
3 supporting
have at least 3
idea or do not
details, and are
supporting
include 3
creative and
details.
supporting details
original.
Picture is
Picture is
Picture is mostly
Picture is
complete,
complete and
complete.
incorrect or
accurate, and
accurate.
incomplete.
includes at least 3
details.
Caption is
Caption is
Caption is mostly
Caption is
complete, adds
complete and
complete. It does
incorrect or
details that are not adds details that
not add details
incomplete.
already obvious
are not already
that are not
in the picture, is
obvious in the
already obvious
creative and
picture.
in the picture.
original.
Table is complete. Table is complete.
Table is mostly
Table is incorrect
It includes 3
It includes at least
complete. It
or incomplete.
details and is well
3 details.
includes less than
organized.
3 details.
Text box is
Text box is
Text box is
Text box is
complete. It
complete. It
mostly complete.
mostly
includes at least 3 includes at least 3
incomplete.
sentences and
sentences.
explains a new
and interesting
fact.
Project is neat and
organized.
No title.
No headings.
No paragraphs.
No picture.
No captions.
No table.
No text box.
Project is not neat
and organized.
_______/30
EXAMPLE:
I.
II.
Pick a Planet!
____Earth____
Planning Your Paragraphs
a. All great paragraphs have a ___________ ____________! This means they are _____________!
b. Paragraph #1: Main Idea: Earth has many characteristics that enable it to support living things.
i. We research to find __________________ _____________.
Supporting Detail
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____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Source
Page
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
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Earth is different from its neighbors in space. Our planet is full of plants, animals, and other
living things. Astronomers have studied the planets and many other space objects in Earth’s
solar system. They have found no proof of life anywhere but Earth. (p 19)
How can millions of life forms call Earth home? Special conditions on Earth make life possible.
One of the most important is water. All living things on Earth need water to survive.
There is a lot of water on Earth. Earth’s deep oceans cover about 70% of the planet’s surface.
Oceans are full of salt water, however. Most land animals and plants need freshwater, or water
with no salt in it. That’s the kind of water you drink. (p 20)
Another important condition for life is Earth’s distance from the sun. Mercury and Venus are
closer to the sun than Earth is. On those planets, it is too hot for living creatures.
The third important condition for life on Earth is the atmosphere. Earth’s atmosphere contains
gases called nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. Most life on Earth needs oxygen to survive.
Plants use carbon dioxide to make food. (p 22)
I.
II.
Pick a Planet! _______________________________________________________________________
Planning Your Paragraphs
Main Idea #1: _____________________________________________________________________________
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Supporting Detail
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Source
Page
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Main Idea #2: _____________________________________________________________________________
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Supporting Detail
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Source
Page
Write it! (Don’t forget the HEADING!)
III.
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IV.
V.
Find Some Neat Numbers
a. A Table usually has numerical data in it. Search for some numerical data about your planet.
Pick a Picture and Plan a Caption
a. Your picture should be an accurate depiction of your planet.
b. Your caption should describe your picture and ADD some interesting information.
EXAMPLE: Wrong: Earth looks mostly blue from space. Right: From space you can see that
70% of Earth is covered by water.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
VI.
Text Box: Did You Know?
a. Your text box should highlight something interesting or amazing about your planet. Your text
box should be something that many people wouldn’t know and would be interested to learn!
Did You Know?
VII.
Terrific Title!
a. The title expresses the topic and main idea of the poster. What is the poster ALL about? A title
should also make someone want to read your great work! If it is boring or plain no one will want
to read it.
______________________________________________________________________________
VIII.
Plan Your Poster
a. It is important that your poster ____________ ____________! Think about a gift. Would you buy someone a diamond ring and wrap
it in toilet paper?! NO WAY! So, make sure to present your great ideas in a way that ___________ ____________.
Mercury
Main Idea #1: Mercury is the closest planet to the sun.
Main Idea #2: Until recently scientists and astronauts had only been able to
visit and study Mercury once.
Pluto
Main Idea #1: Pluto is different from other planets in our Solar System.
Main Idea #2: Another reason that Pluto is so unusual is its moon Charon.
Saturn
Main Idea #1: Saturn is made of solids and gases just like Earth, but unlike
Earth you would not want to land on Saturn!
Main Idea #2: Saturn is not the only planet in our Solar System with rings but
Saturn has the most.
Mars
Main Idea #1: Living on Mars would be similar to living on Earth in many
ways.
Main Idea #2: Living on Mars would also be very different from living on
Earth.
Jupiter
Main Idea #1: Jupiter is a gaseous planet.
Main Idea #2: Jupiter is a stormy planet.
Uranus
Main Idea #1: No humans have ever been to Uranus, but high powered
telescopes and a space probe from 1977 have helped scientists learn what they
do know about Uranus’s surface and atmosphere.
Main Idea #2: Like Saturn Uranus has many moons and rings.
The Sun
Main Idea #1: We can see the Sun’s energy in many different ways.
Main Idea #2: The Sun helps the Earth in many ways.
The Moon
Main Idea #1: The moon does not actually change shape but sometimes it
looks like it does.
Main Idea #2: Because the moon is so close, scientists know quite a bit about
the surface and the atmosphere of the moon.