Amazing Astronauts
Teacher Page

A WebQuest for 4th Grade Astronomy (Solar System)

Designed by

Debora Kernan

Introduction | Learners | Standards | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Student Page

Introduction

This lesson was developed for student learning in the content areas of astronomy, space exploration, technology, research and writing skills, group process, and oral presentation.

Learners

This lesson is designed at the fourth grade level. Preliminary skills for class discussion would be:

• discussion of group work skills
• Internet navigation skills
• Final written report copy skills
• PowerPoint design skills
• Oral presentation skills

Curriculum Standards

Students will meet learning outcomes in:

• Scientific research and reporting processes
• Language report writing processes
• Language oral presentation skills
• Technology uses of Internet, presentation software program capabilities
• Social interaction/Group process skills

Students will also utilize skills in  critical thinking, creative production, teamwork.

Process

Pre-Flight Training

1. Students meet their crew

2. Students decide which planet to explore

3. Students design their mission patch:

• Each crew member's name

• Name of planet

• Mission name

• extra details

The Director of Space Missions (teacher) approves all patches before "lift-off" (continuing with mission).

Space Exploration

Teammates should work cooperatively and report your progress weekly to the Director of Space Missions.

Students use the data collection form as they research their planet - click here

Re-Entry

As students re-enter the Earth's atmosphere, they prepare their data collection report from the information  collected on data collection form.

Final Report should include:

1. Title Page with Planet name, planet picture, crew members' names.

2. Flight suit Patch page with crew names, mission name, planet, details.

3. 1st paragraph - Appearance and Atmosphere of planet: color, craters, mountains, moons, rings. Which gases make up this planet's atmosphere? What is gravity like on this planet?

4. 2nd paragraph -  Location of planet: which planet is this from the sun? How many miles is this planet from the sun? Which planet is before this planet and after this planet (from the sun)? 

5. 3rd paragraph - various Measurements/Numeric facts of this planet: How many miles/kilometers across is this planet in diameter? What are the high and low temperatures of this planet? What is the rotation revolution of this planet compared to the earth's (how long is one Earth year on this planet?)

6. 4th paragraph - any interesting facts about discoveries of this planet: Who discovered it? When was it discovered? What "nicknames" does this planet have! What interesting discoveries have been found about this planet?

7. Conclusion paragraph - Students' thoughts about their planet. Their thoughts about their crew. Students list at least 3 reasons why their planet should be the next major space exploration mission. 

Preparing for Presentation

Students turn in their draft of Data Collection Report to the Director of Space Missions (teacher) for review before writing a final cursive copy.

Prepare for PowerPoint slide show for oral presentation:

1. Title page with Planet name, planet picture, and crew members' names.

2. Slide 2 : details of planets' appearance and atmosphere facts

3. Slide 3:  details of planets' location facts

4. Slide 4:  details of planets' measurements/numeric facts

5. Slide 5:  details of planets' discoveries facts

6. Slide 6: crews' reasons for their planet to be the next major space exploration mission (3 reasons listed)

Presentation

Crews will give oral presentation to Space Missions Director and other teams, using their PowerPoint and flight data collection report.

Resources Needed

I would recommend one Internet station per each 3 crew members. It might be helpful to have parent volunteers in the classroom when students begin working on their PowerPoint presentations.

Table of Planets

Star Child

AstroKids

The Nine Planets

NASA for Kids

NASA's Earth Crew for Students

Evaluation

  Each crew will print out a copy of the rubric and turns it in to the Director of Space Missions (teacher) when they give their oral/slide presentation. Each student is evaluated individually for their contribution to the team's mission.

Crew members' name ________________________