A Scientific WebQuest…
Introduction
 What is astronomy? It’s the study of outer space and
anything in it.
 So what’s in outer space? The solar system!
 The solar system is made up of 8 planets, plus a dwarf
planet called Pluto.
 Each planet is very different. They rotate around the
biggest star of all the stars… the Sun!
 Can you name one famous astronomer?
Sir Isaac Newton
He is most famous for his
Universal Law of Gravity.
Gravity pulls you toward the
center of the Earth, and
keeps you from drifting up
toward the ceiling.
Your Task…
 You’re one in a crew of three Grade 4 Astronauts.
 Name your crew. (Ex. Apollo 13, Deep Space 9, etc.) Be creative!
 Your mission is to explore one planet – you and your crew must
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

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agree on this, so choose now.
Find all the information you would need to know about this
planet before your voyage; how big is it, what is it made of, what
is the temperature, etc.
Write all of these details down in your handy notebook. You’ll
need them later!
Next, prepare for your journey to infinity and beyond!
Remember to keep track of the time – you have 45 minutes per
online session to complete this task. You’ll have 2 days to
complete your mission. Good luck!
Resources for Your Journey…
 You’ve just landed. Take a look at images taken by the
Hubble Telescope:
 http://www.astronomy-for-kids-online.com/hubble-telescope-pictures.html
 Now you and your crew begin exploring the planet.
Visit these sites and click on your chosen planet:
 http://kids.nineplanets.org/intro.htm
 http://planetscapes.com/
 http://kids.nineplanets.org/general2.htm
 http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/our_solar_system/solar_system.html
 http://www.childrensmuseum.org/cosmicquest/fieldguide/planets.html
Resources
 Use these sites to get a feel for what your planet is like:
 http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=ss&id=192
 http://www.frontiernet.net/~kidpower/solarsystem.html
 http://www.childrensmuseum.org/cosmicquest/fieldguide/planets.html
 Sir Isaac Newton wants you to figure out what you would
weigh on another planet!
 http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/weight/index.html
Process
 With all the facts you’ve discovered about your planet
and using the modeling clay given, create a clay model
of your planet.
 Make sure it is sized to scale. Compare the different sizes
of each planet in our solar system:
Process Continued
Create your
presentation poster
It must include:
•The name of your crew
•The planet you visited
•Pictures of things you saw
•6 interesting facts about
the planet
•Each member of your crew’s
weight on the planet
•A concluding remark about
your exploration; what did
you enjoy most?
WEBQUEST RUBRIC
Evaluation
You will be evaluated
using this WebQuest
rubric.
How you work with your
crew, spell and present
your presentation, and
how original your
presentation is reflects
your score.
Use your imagination,
the Internet resources
given, and each other’s
minds to create a superb
presentation poster and
model of your planet!
Introduction
4
All questions were
answered completely
and rationales for the
answers were clearly
stated.
CRITERIA
3
2
1
All questions were
Not all questions
All questions were not
answered completely, were answered
answered completely.
but rationales for the completely, or greater
all the answers were than 2 rationales for
not clearly stated.
the all answers were
not clearly stated.
All areas of the task
were addressed and
handled with a high
degree of
sophistication. The plan
followed by the team
demonstrated a great
deal of thought.
At least one area of
the task was not
addressed. The plan
followed by the team
demonstrated a great
deal of thought.
At least two areas of
the task were not
addressed. The plan
followed by the team
demonstrated a
moderate level of
thought.
The task is incomplete
and/or it is apparent that
little effort went into the
development of the task.
Process
Teamwork
It is evident that a
mutual effort and
cohesive unit created
the final product.
The team worked well
together, but could
have utilized each
other's skills to a
better degree.
The team had
problems working
together. Little
collaboration
occurred.
The final product is not
the result of a
collaborative effort. The
group showed no
evidence of collaboration.
Process
Originality
The ideas expressed
by the body of work
demonstrate a high
degree of originality.
The ideas expressed
by the body of work
are mostly original.
The group may have
improved upon a
previous idea.
The ideas expressed
by the body of work
demonstrate a low
degree of originality.
There were no original
ideas expressed in this
project.
Grammar
Format
Spelling
The final body of work
was free of grammar,
spelling, and formatting
errors.
The final body of
work had 1 error
related to either
grammar, spelling,
and formatting errors.
The final body of
work had 3-5
grammar, spelling,
and formatting errors.
The final body of work
had major grammar,
spelling, and formatting
errors.
Task
TOTAL:
Points
Presenting Your
Findings
•When your crew has organized
The ABCs of Observing:
your materials and knowledge of
your journey through outer space,
quietly raise your hand and hold a
conference with the director of
NASA (your teacher ).
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=6189
•Rehearse your presentation and
Make Your Own Alien!:
ask any questions at this time
during your conference.
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/cool_stuff/alien/make_alien.html
Space Sense:
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/games/space_sense_intro.html
Solar System Coloring Book:
•If you have extra time while other
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/coloring_book/index_java.html
crews finish their presentations,
visit some interactive astronomy
sites listed to the right.
The Space Hopper Game:
•Explore & play quietly!
Design A Space Station:
http://www.funbrain.com/constellation/index.html
http://www.childrensmuseum.org/cosmicquest/spacestation/index2.html
• Exploring the World Wide Web can be an exciting journey,
just like traveling to outer space. Remember, sometimes not
everything on the Web is factual, and to be careful of what sites
you are visiting.
• Place your model planet along with your presentation poster in
the front of the classroom when you’re done with it.
•Presentations will begin when all crews are ready for blast off!