The Solar System
University of Phoenix
Designing and Producing Educational
Technology
Presented by: Charlene Reed Ragins
CMP555
Nancy Fitzgerald
July 30, 2011
Our Solar System & Planets
You Tube Video Posted December 21, 2007
Introduction
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
…Blast Off!
You will learn about the nine
different planets in space. This
lesson is created for you to learn
about the solar system in a unique
and fun way.
Task:
Design a “Vacation Package”
You have been selected to help
design a vacation package to one of
the planets in Earth's solar system.
You and your team will create a
company that will put together a
vacation package presentation that
can safely deliver your clients to
your vacation destination.
Student Objectives:
General Information:
This project is designed to be used as an activity during
study of the solar system.
You will be able to:
 Study one planet in greater detail.
 Use creative problem solving skills.
 Develop reading comprehension of factual text
through researching, recording, and consolidating
scientific information using technology.
Team Objectives:
Research the planet, identify the
challenges it presents to living things,
and create solutions to overcome the
challenges.
 Produce a vacation package
highlighting the special features of the
planet using Microsoft Power Point.
Task:
Vacation Package
Present your vacation package power
point presentation to a group of
investors interested in providing funding
for your project.
 Be prepared to answer any questions
they may ask.
Process
Step 1
 Create groups.
 Each team will be given planet instruction sheet on how
to do the assignment for the unique planet.
 Each member of the group is assigned a specific job with
in the group.
Step 2
 You will utilize traditional methods and technology in
order to gather data and do the project.
 Keep a timeline for the project and adhere to the timeline.
Step 3
 The final presentation will be graded through critiques
and revisions (rubrics).
 The groups will present their projects to the class.
Evaluation:
Student Assessment Rubric
Science
Standard 4:
Planet
Research
Vacation
Package
Presentation
Skills
Grammar and
Mechanics
Beginning
1
Developing
2
Accomplished
3
Exemplary
4
Research a planet.
Identify 0-1 challenge
it presents to living
things.
Create 0-1 solution to
overcome the
challenge.
Research a planet.
Identify 2 challenges it
presents to living
things.
Create 2 solutions to
overcome the
challenges.
Research a planet.
Identify 3 challenges it
presents to living things.
Create 3 solutions to
overcome the challenges.
Research a planet.
Identify 4 challenges it
presents to living
things.
Create 4 solutions to
overcome the
challenges.
Produce a vacation
package highlighting a
special feature of the
planet.
Produce a vacation
package highlighting 2-3
special features of the
planet.
Produce a vacation
package highlighting 3-4
special features of the
planet.
Produce a vacation
package highlighting 5
special features of the
planet.
The presenter(s) could
The presenter(s) knows
not tell the information some of the material, but
without relying heavily on
appears ill-at-ease.
the notes.
Score
The presenter(s) knows the The presenter(s) knows the
material pretty well and is
material well and speaks
relatively confident in the
with confidence.
deliverance of the material.
Total Points - 12
More than six errors
4-6 errors
2-3 errors
0-1 errors
/ 12
Conclusion
The overall goal of this project is to
have you try out different strategies and
methods on your solar system science
project and make your studies fun-filled
and entertaining while at the same time
learning from gathering and interpreting
data from Internet resources and using
Microsoft Word and Power Point.
Resources
Literature Connections:
Our Solar System by: Seymour Simon
There’s No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System
by: Tish Rabe and Aristides Ruiz
The Planets in Our Solar System by: Franklyn M. Branley
and Kevin O’Malley
What’s Out There?: A Book about Space by: Lynn Wilson
Credits and References:
Clip Art:
 Books: http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/exhibitionist/33-books.gif
 Travel Brochure:
http://www.franklin.k12.ma.us/~formane/Venus%20brochure.jpg
 Kid Pix: http://i37.tinypic.com/2zi0rc5.jpg
 Standards: http://homepages.wmich.edu/~a2quast/computerkey_color.gif
 Rocket Ship:
http://grayline.ezrez.com/images_w/grayline/activities/Orlando14026_140
.jpg
 Rubric:
http://mhslibrary.org/Teacher%20Projects/Teacher%20Projects/Teams/G
rubric.gif
 Solar System: http://helensguidetothegalaxy.files.wordpress.com/2009/04
solar_system-my-fantasy.jpg
 Team: Hook, Dianne J. DJ Inkers: Kidillywinks
 Steps: http://crackerjackonlinemarketing.com/blog/wpcontent/uploads/2008/10/goals.jpg