EARTH SCIENCE INQUIRY PROJECT:

1
EARTH SCIENCE INQUIRY PROJECT

• Our Solar System

2
Created by

• Courtney Compton
• Curri Elliott
• Alissa Hughes
• Amber Leister
• Kathy Nixon
• Lindsey Oefinger
• Lindsay Velek

3
SUN

• The sun is the center of our system and therefore
  we will provide a basic introduction to our
  students as to why it is the center and what it
  gives to us.

4
SUN

• The idea consists of the idea that the Sun gives
  us things that we cannot see and may not be able
  to feel.
• The activity will express to students the idea of
  why our system revolves around the sun and why.

5
SUN

• Did you know that in 1989 a solar disturbance
  disrupted power in a large part of Canada and
  some of the US? Millions of people went without
  power for many hours as a result. Other parts of
  North America were less affected.

6
SUN

• Encourage students to talk about what they would
  do during a blackout and promote a discussion on
  what they have learned about the Suns
  contribution to the Earth and to life systems.

7
SPACE TRAVEL AND EQUIPMENT LESSON

• TEKS 6.13 Science Concepts The student knows
  components of our solar system. The student is
  expected to (b) describe types of equipment and
  transportation needed for space travel.
• Power Point Presentation

8
SPACE TRAVEL AND EQUIPMENT LESSON, cont

• Assessment activity done during
  presentation/lesson
• Inquiry portion Students will explore their
  favorite topic more in depth and write a creative
  paper over the topic.

9
FOCUS

• Teach mnemonics for remembering the order of the
  planets
• - Planet song
• Mercury, Venus, the Earth and Mars, these are
  the planets that dwell near the star. Jupiter,
  Saturn, Uranus too, Neptune, Pluto, I know them
  all, do you?
• - My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine
  Pizzas

10
PLANET INQUIRY GROUPS

• Divide class into eight planet groups
• Spend three days inquiring about their assigned
  planet
• -Computer lab
• -Library
• -NASA visitor
• Present their planet to the class in any creative
  way they desire

11
INQUIRY RESEARCH

• Students can discuss any exciting information
  that they find about their planet
• The major inquiry question that they must answer
  is
• How would humans have to adapt to live on your
  planet?

12
FOOTBALL FIELD ACTIVITY

• Nine students are chosen to be the planets and
  one is chosen to be the Sun.
• Position students on respective yard line
• Mercury just shy of the 1st yard line
• Venus halfway between the 1st and 2nd yard
  line
• Earth stands on the 2nd yard line
• Mars stands on the 3rd yard line
• Jupiter stands halfway between the 10th and
  11th yard line
• Saturn stands on the 19th yard line
• Uranus stands on the 39th yard line
• Neptune stands on the 60th yard line (other 40
  yard line)
• Pluto stands on the 79th yard line (other 21st
  yard line)

13
FOOTBALL FIELD ACTIVITY, cont

• Gives students a visual representation of scale
  in the solar system
• Able to see why the Earth is the only planet in
  our solar system suitable for life

14
BEYOND THE MILKY WAY

• OBJECTIVE The students will creatively apply
  their knowledge of planet characteristics by
  developing their own planet.
• Read story.
• In groups of 4, design planet.
• Display the characteristics of planet in an
  acrostic poem. (Use the name of the planet as a
  format.)
• Be creative and use poster board to show off your
  planet and your poem!