1. The Solar System Jigsaw Mr. Pence, 8 th Grade Science Space…the final frontier

2. Table of Contents This place is getting a little crowded (Imagine if you will…) Project description (Your Assignment) Sequence of activities (How you will present your findings) Timelines & deadlines Rubrics Web Resources

3. Imagine if you will… You, as Director of Interplanetary Relations, have been asked to prepare a short presentation on the main facts of one of our solar system bodies. Since our nearest celestial neighbors, the DanDans, don’t know much about these places, you will need to prepare them for potential colonization, should they be interested. We are asking you, because we know you will deliver!

4. Your Assignment Research, using the online resources you have been given, and any other good ones: Max/Min temperatures of your planet Composition Overall place in our solar system and how long we have known about it If it has been visited by manned or robotic missions Any other truly unique facts about it Include LOTS of pictures and memorable facts

5. How you will present your findings… Since your audience can only read for 10 seconds at a time before needing to recharge their “sight”… You are to prepare a 7-10 slide PowerPoint presentation that runs on a self-timer of 10 seconds per slide. Include as many visuals as you can since vocabulary of the DanDans is limited. Big print Contrasting colors Remember, less is more!!! Limit animation so it has impact, not tedium.

6. Timelines and Deadlines Initial research note page (two periods in computer lab) due for teacher check/credit at end of second research day Rough draft PowerPoint with chosen pictures and facts to be included (due saved on server at end of third class period) Final draft with all pictures, animation and facts due on server end of fourth day Class peer presentation TBA

7. Grading rubric TOTAL VALUE 40 POINTS 10 POINTS FOR FACT ACCURACY 10: ALL PERTINENT FACTS ACCURATE, SPELLED CORRECTLY, PRESENTED CLEARLY, SHOW EXTENSIVE RESEARCH 9: FACTS CLEAR AND ACCURATE THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED 8: ABOVE BASIC INFORMATION, CLEARLY PRESENTED 7: COMMON BASIC INFORMATION PRESENTED 6: SOME COMMON FACTS LEFT OUT 5: MAJOR FACTUAL INFORMATION LACKING OR INCORRECT

8. Rubric continued… 10 POINTS FOR USE OF VISUAL MEDIA 10: 7 OR MORE DIFFERENT PICTURES OF THE OBJECT THAT ENHANCE AND ILLUSTRATE FACTS 9: 5-6 ENHANCING PICTURES 8: 4 ENHANCING PICTURES OR MORE THAT DO NOT GO WITH DESCRIPTION ON SLIDE 7: SOLID, ACCURATE ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE OBJECT 6: FEW PICTURES, OR INAPPROPRIATE FOR FACTS 5: MINIMAL VISUAL AIDS

9. More rubric…(you always want to know!) 10 POINTS FOR USE OF THE POWERPOINT MEDIUM 10 : 7-10 SLIDES, SELF-TIMED, ANIMATED, EASY TO READ, USED ADVANCED FEATURES 9: 7-10 SLIDES, SELF-TIMED, ANIMATED, EASY TO READ 8: 7-10 SLIDES, SELF-TIMED, EASY TO READ 7: LESS THAN 7 SLIDES, OR DIFFICULT TO READ, OR LOOK THE SAME THROUGHOUT 6: MARGINALLY COMPLETE 5: IS A POWERPOINT, NOT A LOT MORE

10. Rubric concluding… 10 POINTS FOR CREATIVITY 10: INCLUDES MUSIC/SOUND, MOTION, UNIQUE WAY OF REACHING THE DANDANS 9: INCLUDES MUSIC/SOUND, ENGAGES THE AUDIENCE 8: USE OF ENHANCENTS KEEPS OUR ATTENTION 7: ATTENTION KEPT THROUGH VARIATION OF SLIDES, NO MUSIC/SOUND 6: LITTLE INDIVIDUAL CREATIVITY EXPRESSED, BUT OVERALL DOES COMMUNICATE 5: IS IT OVER YET?

11. A few good websites… http://www.kidsastronomy.com/sol ar_system.htm http://www.kidsastronomy.com/sol ar_system.htm http://www.space.com/jupiter/ http://www.kidsastronomy.com/sol ar_system.htm http://www.kidsastronomy.com/sol ar_system.htm http://www.kidscosmos.org/kid- stuff/jupiter-facts.html http://www.kidscosmos.org/kid- stuff/jupiter-facts.html http://www.kidzone.ws/planets/ind ex.htm http://www.kidzone.ws/planets/ind ex.htm http://www.nineplanets.org/ http://www.abc.net.au/children/spa ce/planets/default.htm http://www.abc.net.au/children/spa ce/planets/default.htm http://www.frontiernet.net/~kidpo wer/planets.html http://www.frontiernet.net/~kidpo wer/planets.html http://exoplanets.org/ http://www.kidzone.ws/planets/ind ex.htm http://www.kidzone.ws/planets/ind ex.htm http://www.enchantedlearning.co m/subjects/astronomy/planets/ http://www.enchantedlearning.co m/subjects/astronomy/planets/ http://science.nationalgeographic.c om/science/space/planets http://science.nationalgeographic.c om/science/space/planets http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets /index.cfm http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets /index.cfm http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/spac e/solarsystem/index.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/spac e/solarsystem/index.shtml http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/

12. And may The Force be with you!