Content Area Assignment #2
Language Art Learning Activities
Part One: Teacher created Book
Welcome to Earth Science: Expectations
Welcome to Earth Science: Expectations
Here is a link to the book in MixBook.
Part Two
Students will write a book about our solar system. Our class will share these books with the 6th grade students at the middle school.
The assignment:
232 Publishing Company
Caroline Cooney, Editor in Chief
232 Publishing Company plans to release a new children’s book on our Solar System. 232 Publishing is looking for creative teams to develop a new children’s book on our Solar System. The book’s target audience is upper elementary / middle school aged children (ages 9-12). After an extensive search process, your team has been chosen as one of five teams to develop and create a “pilot” book on our Solar System. Congratulations!
Once all the “pilot” books are completed, each team will present their book to the 232 Publishing Company. After hearing, and reviewing all books, the 232 Publishing Company will decide on the book it plans to publish. Your attention to detail and ability to work as a team, will be critical to your team’s success and its ability to create an inviting, creative, factual book on our Solar System!
Of course, like all projects, there is a deadline. You and your team must work together to develop the “story”, create the finished product, and present the finished product to the 232 Publishing Company for approval. Your team must work together to include all the required literary elements and all the required scientific elements to create a book that children will want to read, and parents will ultimately want to buy! You and your team will hold daily meetings to assess where the book is in the process, and to make sure that all team members are completing their tasks as assigned. Work together and create an informative work that can inspire our younger scholars to understand their world! The 232 Publishing Company will assess each book using the rubric that is attached to this packet. You should self-assess your product using the rubric.
Although you are a team of two or three individuals, your goal is create a cohesive book with a story line or theme throughout the book that makes it seem as if it was written by one person. The book should have a flow, all pages should have the same theme (color, font, layout, etc. )
Procedure: Before creating your book, you will need to research the different topics. Each team member should be assigned at least three or four topics to research. There should be overlap on the topics meaning that at least two people are independently researching a topic. The more research your team does, the better the accuracy of the information, the more information you will have, and the richer your story will be! As each member does research, he or she should take careful notes on a shared Google Document AND be sure to include the reference for the reference page! Additionally, members should create and share a Google Presentation for images that you find. As you begin to add images, give each image a caption and give proper credit! Remember, images from NASA and NOAA are in the Public Domain, so they can be used, but you still MUST give credit to the source!
After completing your research, the team should reconvene to discuss. The team needs to verify that all required information has been gathered, and properly cited. Next, the team will create a setting / plot line for your story or a cohesive theme for the book. After cooperatively crafting this, you will need to create your story, writing and illustrating using Mixbook.
If a member of your group is out for more than 2 days, they will need to take a traditional assessment on the solar system. If your project is late, it is -10% per day AND 0 points for the use of class time line item on rubric! Plan accordingly, if someone is going to be out, make sure your team members have all the materials!
Good sources include the following.
All links can be found on our class website
NASA Solar System page w/ links to information about planets, sun and more
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/
NASA Solar System for kids
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/kids/
NASA Solar System search by location for space mission
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/
NASA Marshall Space Center, good information on the sun
http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/index.html
NASA Jet Propulsion Lab…information on our solar system
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/solar-system/
NASA Jet Propulsion Lab Space Topics for Students
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/education/index.cfm?page=254
NASA Jet Propulsion Lab…View of space objects, using a simulator
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Tour of Solar System
http://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/690/solarsystemtour.html
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Imagine the Universe
http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/science.html
NASA Star Child …good basic information on solar system, universe, etc
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html
Good resource on terms, all objects in our solar system. Can adjust reading level and content to beginner, intermediate, or advanced.
http://www.windows2universe.org/our_solar_system/solar_system.html
Additionally, the textbook (Ch 23 and ch 24) has some information that is good, but not up to date!
Literary Requirements
The terms listed below, plus at least 4 more to make a total of 16. Must be in alphabetical order!
Illustration requirements
Every page must have an image. Images have the appropriate Creative Commons License or be in the Public Domain (NASA, NOAA, USGS, etc).have appropriate citation. Each image must be given credit. You may choose to credit the image on the page of the book or credit all the images on a page title "Image Credits" at the back of the book. Your credit should include (if available): the title of image, the name of photographer, date taken, link to where you found picture.
Please see example at the top of the page.
Book Checklist
Literary Requirements
Science Content Requirements
Required Scientific Information: Refer to checklist by planet/topic for required information.
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto/Dwarf Planets
Sun:
Formation & history of what we know Solar System
Asteroids
Asteroids & the asteroid belt: Include good explanations and illustrations
Define/explain & include Pictures of:
Students will write a book about our solar system. Our class will share these books with the 6th grade students at the middle school.
The assignment:
232 Publishing Company
Caroline Cooney, Editor in Chief
232 Publishing Company plans to release a new children’s book on our Solar System. 232 Publishing is looking for creative teams to develop a new children’s book on our Solar System. The book’s target audience is upper elementary / middle school aged children (ages 9-12). After an extensive search process, your team has been chosen as one of five teams to develop and create a “pilot” book on our Solar System. Congratulations!
Once all the “pilot” books are completed, each team will present their book to the 232 Publishing Company. After hearing, and reviewing all books, the 232 Publishing Company will decide on the book it plans to publish. Your attention to detail and ability to work as a team, will be critical to your team’s success and its ability to create an inviting, creative, factual book on our Solar System!
Of course, like all projects, there is a deadline. You and your team must work together to develop the “story”, create the finished product, and present the finished product to the 232 Publishing Company for approval. Your team must work together to include all the required literary elements and all the required scientific elements to create a book that children will want to read, and parents will ultimately want to buy! You and your team will hold daily meetings to assess where the book is in the process, and to make sure that all team members are completing their tasks as assigned. Work together and create an informative work that can inspire our younger scholars to understand their world! The 232 Publishing Company will assess each book using the rubric that is attached to this packet. You should self-assess your product using the rubric.
Although you are a team of two or three individuals, your goal is create a cohesive book with a story line or theme throughout the book that makes it seem as if it was written by one person. The book should have a flow, all pages should have the same theme (color, font, layout, etc. )
Procedure: Before creating your book, you will need to research the different topics. Each team member should be assigned at least three or four topics to research. There should be overlap on the topics meaning that at least two people are independently researching a topic. The more research your team does, the better the accuracy of the information, the more information you will have, and the richer your story will be! As each member does research, he or she should take careful notes on a shared Google Document AND be sure to include the reference for the reference page! Additionally, members should create and share a Google Presentation for images that you find. As you begin to add images, give each image a caption and give proper credit! Remember, images from NASA and NOAA are in the Public Domain, so they can be used, but you still MUST give credit to the source!
After completing your research, the team should reconvene to discuss. The team needs to verify that all required information has been gathered, and properly cited. Next, the team will create a setting / plot line for your story or a cohesive theme for the book. After cooperatively crafting this, you will need to create your story, writing and illustrating using Mixbook.
If a member of your group is out for more than 2 days, they will need to take a traditional assessment on the solar system. If your project is late, it is -10% per day AND 0 points for the use of class time line item on rubric! Plan accordingly, if someone is going to be out, make sure your team members have all the materials!
Good sources include the following.
All links can be found on our class website
NASA Solar System page w/ links to information about planets, sun and more
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/
NASA Solar System for kids
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/kids/
NASA Solar System search by location for space mission
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/
NASA Marshall Space Center, good information on the sun
http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/index.html
NASA Jet Propulsion Lab…information on our solar system
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/solar-system/
NASA Jet Propulsion Lab Space Topics for Students
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/education/index.cfm?page=254
NASA Jet Propulsion Lab…View of space objects, using a simulator
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Tour of Solar System
http://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/690/solarsystemtour.html
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Imagine the Universe
http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/science.html
NASA Star Child …good basic information on solar system, universe, etc
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html
Good resource on terms, all objects in our solar system. Can adjust reading level and content to beginner, intermediate, or advanced.
http://www.windows2universe.org/our_solar_system/solar_system.html
Additionally, the textbook (Ch 23 and ch 24) has some information that is good, but not up to date!
Literary Requirements
- Cover including a title, compelling illustration, and authors’ names
- Title page including publishing company name, year of copyright,
- A dedication page
- Table of Contents
- Glossary at the end
- A reference page at the back that is in APA format (see handout on APA formatting)
- A page giving credit to all images used (If using hand drawn image, take a picture or scan and upload. Be sure to give credit to the illustrator!)
- All pages must be numbered
- Book has a cohesive story or theme, and all pages seem to go to together
- Book is neat, easy to read, free of spelling errors and grammatical errors
- Clear and concise explanations of key ideas (facts, etc)
- Maintains a scientific focus in an appropriate voice for a children’s book
- Appropriate illustrations that support story and facts
- Illustrations should highlight information, and enhance the text.
- All pages should include illustrations
The terms listed below, plus at least 4 more to make a total of 16. Must be in alphabetical order!
- Retrograde
- Terretrial Planet
- Jovian Planet
- Inner Planet
- Outer Planet
- Rocky Planet
- Gas Giant Planet (Ice Giant)
- Asteroid
- Meteoroid
- Meteor (Meteor Shower)
- Meteorite
- Satellite (natural and man made)
Illustration requirements
Every page must have an image. Images have the appropriate Creative Commons License or be in the Public Domain (NASA, NOAA, USGS, etc).have appropriate citation. Each image must be given credit. You may choose to credit the image on the page of the book or credit all the images on a page title "Image Credits" at the back of the book. Your credit should include (if available): the title of image, the name of photographer, date taken, link to where you found picture.
Please see example at the top of the page.
Book Checklist
Literary Requirements
- Cover including a title, compelling illustration, and authors’ names
- Title page including publishing company name, year of copyright, Name of illustrator(s) (by page #)
- A dedication page
- Table of Contents
- Any pictures that are not hand drawn must be cited on the reference page, AND must give credit on the page itself!
- Glossary at the end
- A reference page at the back that is in APA format (see handout on APA formatting)
- All pages must be numbered
- Book has a cohesive story or theme, and all pages seem to go to together
- Book is neat, easy to read, free of spelling errors and grammatical errors
- Clear and concise explanations of key ideas (facts, etc)
- Maintains a scientific focus in an appropriate voice for a children’s book
- Appropriate illustrations that support story and facts
- Illustrations should highlight information, and enhance the text.
- All pages should include illustrations
- Illustrations give credit to source
Science Content Requirements
Required Scientific Information: Refer to checklist by planet/topic for required information.
Mercury
- At least one (preferably more than one!) illustration with credit.
- Location in our solar system.
- Planet Classification: Rocky or Gas? Inner or Outer planet? Terrestrial or Jovian planet? Dwarf? May be more than one!
- How far from sun (miles & AU)
- How long is a day on the planet?
- How long is a year?
- What is gravity’s effect on the planet compared to earth? How much would 100lb person weigh on the planet?
- Rings? If yes, information about rings.
- Atmosphere? If yes, composition?
- Retrograde?
- Moons? If yes, how many & names, important information about the moons
- Does Planet have a nickname (s)? If so, what is it? Why?
- What color is the planet? (or what color does it appear to be to us?) Why?
- What space missions or probes or satellites have gone to or studied this planet? Why was this mission important to our knowledge of the planet?
- Other to include: Why does Mercury have almost no atmosphere and what does that mean for Mercury?
- Other to include: Mercury is the smallest planet
- A minimum of at least two other facts about the planet
Venus
- At least one (preferably more than one!) illustration
- Location in our solar system.
- Planet Classification: Rocky or Gas? Inner or Outer planet? Terrestrial or Jovian planet? Dwarf? May be more than one!
- How far from sun (miles & AU)
- How long is a day on the planet?
- How long is a year?
- What is gravity’s effect on the planet compared to earth? How much would 100lb person weigh on the planet?
- Rings? If yes, information about rings.
- Atmosphere? If yes, composition?
- Retrograde?
- Moons? If yes, how many & names, important information about the moons
- Does Planet have a nickname (s)? If so, what is it? Why?
- What color is the planet? (or what color does it appear to be to us?) Why?
- What space missions or probes or satellites have gone to or studied this planet? Why was this mission important to our knowledge of the planet?
- Other to include: Why is Venus called “Earth’s Twin”?
- Other to include: Venus: Explain why does Venus gets so hot.
- A minimum of at least two other facts about the planet
Earth
- At least one (preferably more than one!) illustration
- Location in our solar system.
- Planet Classification: Rocky or Gas? Inner or Outer planet? Terrestrial or Jovian planet? Dwarf? May be more than one!
- How far from sun (miles & AU)
- How long is a day on the planet?
- How long is a year?
- What is gravity’s effect on the planet compared to earth? How much would 100lb person weigh on the planet?
- Rings? If yes, information about rings.
- Atmosphere? If yes, composition?
- Retrograde?
- Moons? If yes, how many & names, important information about the moons
- Does Planet have a nickname (s)? If so, what is it? Why?
- What color is the planet? (or what color does it appear to be to us?) Why?
- What space missions or probes or satellites have gone to or studied this planet? Why was this mission important to our knowledge of the planet?
- Other to include: Earth is only planet w/ water in all 3 phases
- Other to include: Earth: our moon is called Luna, and Earth is sometimes referred to the as “third rock from the sun”
- A minimum of at least two other facts about the planet
- At least one (preferably more than one!) illustratioLocation in our solar system.
- Planet Classification: Rocky or Gas? Inner or Outer planet? Terrestrial or Jovian planet? Dwarf? May be more than one!
- How far from sun (miles & AU)
- How long is a day on the planet?
- How long is a year?
- What is gravity’s effect on the planet compared to earth? How much would 100lb person weigh on the planet?
- Rings? If yes, information about rings.
- Atmosphere? If yes, composition?
- Retrograde?
- Moons? If yes, how many & names, important information about the moons
- Does Planet have a nickname (s)? If so, what is it? Why?
- What color is the planet? (or what color does it appear to be to us?) Why?
- What space missions or probes or satellites have gone to or studied this planet? Why was this mission important to our knowledge of the planet? Talk about the Mars’ Probes.
- Other to include: Mars: is home to largest volcano in solar system. What is it called? Anything else interesting about it?
- Other to include: Mars: is called the red planet why?
- A minimum of at least two other facts about the planet
Jupiter
- At least one (preferably more than one!) illustration
- Location in our solar system.
- Planet Classification: Rocky or Gas? Inner or Outer planet? Terrestrial or Jovian planet? Dwarf? May be more than one!
- How far from sun (miles & AU)
- How long is a day on the planet?
- How long is a year?
- What is gravity’s effect on the planet compared to earth? How much would 100lb person weigh on the planet?
- Rings? If yes, information about rings.
- Atmosphere? If yes, composition?
- Retrograde?
- Moons? If yes, how many & names, important information about the moons. Jupiter: Include names of the these 4 moons w/ a fact(s) about each IO, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto. Feel free to add others.
- Does Planet have a nickname (s)? If so, what is it? Why?
- What color is the planet? (or what color does it appear to be to us?) Why?
- What space missions or probes or satellites have gone to or studied this planet? Why was this mission important to our knowledge of the planet?
- Other to include: Jupiter: is the largest planet
- Other to include Jupiter is home to the Great Red Spot, what is it? Explain…
- Other to include One of Jupiter’s moons is home to the most volcanically active sites in our solar system, which moon? Describe it.
- A minimum of at least two other facts about the planet
Saturn
- At least one (preferably more than one!) illustration
- Location in our solar system.
- Planet Classification: Rocky or Gas? Inner or Outer planet? Terrestrial or Jovian planet? Dwarf? May be more than one!
- How far from sun (miles & AU)
- How long is a day on the planet?
- How long is a year?
- What is gravity’s effect on the planet compared to earth? How much would 100lb person weigh on the planet?
- Rings? If yes, information about rings.
- Atmosphere? If yes, composition?
- Retrograde?
- Moons? If yes, how many & names, important information about the moons. Saturn: When discussing moons, must include Titan.
- Does Planet have a nickname (s)? If so, what is it? Why?
- What color is the planet? (or what color does it appear to be to us?) Why?
- What space missions or probes or satellites have gone to or studied this planet? Why was this mission important to our knowledge of the planet?
- Other to include: Saturn: Discuss/explain the rings.
- Other to include: Saturn has low density, what does this mean?
- Minimum of 2 additional facts
Uranus
- At least one (preferably more than one!) illustration
- Location in our solar system.
- Planet Classification: Rocky or Gas? Inner or Outer planet? Terrestrial or Jovian planet? Dwarf? May be more than one!
- How far from sun (miles & AU)
- How long is a day on the planet?
- How long is a year?
- What is gravity’s effect on the planet compared to earth? How much would 100lb person weigh on the planet?
- Rings? If yes, information about rings.
- Atmosphere? If yes, composition?
- Retrograde?
- Moons? If yes, how many & names, important information about the moons.
- Does Planet have a nickname (s)? If so, what is it? Why?
- What color is the planet? (or what color does it appear to be to us?) Why?
- What space missions or probes or satellites have gone to or studied this planet? Why was this mission important to our knowledge of the planet?
- Other to include: Uranus: What is unique about the names of Uranus’ moons?
- Other to include Uranus: Explain why does it appear to rotate on its side?
- Minimum of 2 additional facts
Neptune
- At least one (preferably more than one!) illustration
- Location in our solar system.
- Planet Classification: Rocky or Gas? Inner or Outer planet? Terrestrial or Jovian planet? Dwarf? May be more than one!
- How far from sun (miles & AU)
- How long is a day on the planet?
- How long is a year?
- What is gravity’s effect on the planet compared to earth? How much would 100lb person weigh on the planet?
- Rings? If yes, information about rings.
- Atmosphere? If yes, composition?
- Retrograde?
- Moons? If yes, how many & names, important information about the moons.
- Does Planet have a nickname (s)? If so, what is it? Why?
- What color is the planet? (or what color does it appear to be to us?) Why?
- What space missions or probes or satellites have gone to or studied this planet? Why was this mission important to our knowledge of the planet?
- Other to include: Neptune: When discussing moons, include Triton.
- Neptune: Discuss/ explain Neptune’s orbit as it relates to Pluto.
- Minimum of 2 additional facts
Pluto/Dwarf Planets
- At least one (preferably more than one!) illustration
- Location in our solar system.
- Planet Classification: Rocky or Gas? Inner or Outer planet? Terrestrial or Jovian planet? Dwarf? May be more than one!
- How far from sun (miles & AU)
- How long is a day on the planet?
- How long is a year?
- What is gravity’s effect on the planet compared to earth? How much would 100lb person weigh on the planet?
- Rings? If yes, information about rings.
- Atmosphere? If yes, composition?
- Retrograde?
- Moons? If yes, how many & names, important information about the moons.
- Does Planet have a nickname (s)? If so, what is it? Why?
- What color is the planet? (or what color does it appear to be to us?) Why?
- What space missions or probes or satellites have gone to or studied this planet? Why was this mission important to our knowledge of the planet?
- Other to include: Pluto: When discussing moons, include Charon.
- Other to include: Pluto. Define Dwarf Planet. Why is Pluto considered a Dwarf planet?
- Minimum of 2 additional facts about Pluto or Dwarf Planets
Sun:
- Illustration that is labeled
- How much of our Solar System’s mass is in the sun?
- Why is the sun the center of our solar system?
- Anatomy of the sun, pictures, description.
- How does the sun affect us?
- How have we learned so much about our sun?
- Other interesting information about our sun?
Formation & history of what we know Solar System
- Overview of solar system: Your page (s) should include explanations and pictures.
- What is our solar system? (Include all objects considered part of our solar system)
- History on how we know about our solar system including:Earth Centered Model, Sun Centered Model, Modern view (sun, planets, other objects)
- Contributions of the following scientists: Copernicus, Galileo, Keppler.
- How did our Solar system form?
- What unit do we use to measure distances in our solar system, explain.
- How are planets classified? What are the differences between inner/outer? terrestrial/jovian? gas giant/ice giant? dwarf planet?
Asteroids
Asteroids & the asteroid belt: Include good explanations and illustrations
- Picture
- Asteroid Belt & Asteroids: Where is it located?
- What are asteroids?
- Any interesting fact about asteroids.
- Asteroid vs Dwarf: How are they alike? Different?
Define/explain & include Pictures of:
- Picture
- Meteoroids,
- Meteor, meteor showers.
- Meteorites ,
- meteor showers.
- Every August, in the Northern Hemisphere, we can see the Perseid Meteor Shower. What is it?
- Are Comets and meteors the same thing? How are they alike? Different?
- picture of the anatomy of a comet.
- What is a comet? Why is a comet sometimes referred to as a “dirty snowball”
- What is significance of Kuiper Belt to comets?
- What is the significance of the Oort cloud to comets?
- Where are the Kuiper belt and Oort cloud located?
- What are the Kuiper belt and Oort cloud?
- When was the last time & when is next time we will see Halley’s comet? Include Picture(s)