3

3-2-1 BLAST OFF!

By:
Christine Carter
Third Grade Web Quest
Nickajack Elementary

Overview:

Grade Level: Third Grade

Content Area: Language Arts and Science

QCC's:

Science:

*Students will understand how the planets revolve around the sun in a periodic manner.
*Students will utilize various multimedia to gather and disseminate information.

Language Arts :

* Students will demonstrate comprehension of fiction and nonfiction selections by using critical reading skills and strategies.

*Students will apply grammatical rules and conventions of language in the writing process.

*Students celebrate their language development by presenting to varied audiences.

Introduction:

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has just created a new division called SASA (Student Aeronautics and Space Administration). NASA has chosen our class for their first TOP SECRET mission! This mission will send you into space to explore a planet and decide whether or not humans could one day survive there. After your journey, you will organize your data to present at the first annual SASA convention. Get ready for your mission assignment!

Task:

On your journey, you will collect data about your planet using a special SASA data sheet. You will organize your information and create a slide. You will present this slide to all SASA members at the annual convention. Do not forget to take photographs while you are there! You will need to sketch your planet. At the convention, we will review all the data. Then, as a group, we will decide which if any planets could ever support human life.

Resources:

Harcourt Brace Reading Anthology-"Journey Through the Solar System"
Star Child
Zoom Astronomy
Astronomy for Kids
Planet Data Collection Sheet
Pencil
Planet Books
Planet Template
Storyboard Sheet

Process:

1. See the commanding officer (your teacher) to get your mission assignment, mission partner, and the planet data collection sheet. Listen to the debriefing before lift off. (Day One)

2. Get ready to "blast off" to your planet. You must visit all four sites during your mission. We want a completed data collection sheet.

3. ZOOM to the first destination on your planet. (Day Two)

4. Go to your second destination to learn more about your planet. (Day Two)

5. Explore this new world with Astronomy for Kids. (Day Three).

6. Let's Explore your final destination on your planet before you blast off for Earth! Use planet books in the classroom. (Day Three)

7. Get your Harcourt Brace reading anthology and read about your planet in "Journey Through the Solar System." (Day Three)

8. Show your commanding officer the completed data collection sheet. She will give you a story board for the report. (Day Four)

9. Write a few paragraphs about your assigned planet, and create a picture of your planet. (Day Four)

10. Using the computer, create a slide of your planet with your paragraph and a picture. (Day Five)

11. Practice presenting your slide to your partner. Be prepared to answer questions about your findings.

Evaluation:

Click here to see assessment rubric, click on file, print to print a hard copy.

Conclusion:

Mission completed! Thank you for presenting your findings at the first SASA convention. There is so much to learn about all of the planets. After visiting all the planets, do you think we will be able to ever exist on any other planet? Our future holds the answer to this question.

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Created: July 16, 2002
Updated: February 9, 2004

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Microsoft