Final Project: WebQuest

Well, hopefully I am doing this right.  I plan to make a webquest about the soloar system.  The students will be pretending they are astronauts and have to research outer space, namely the relation of the sun to the rest of the planets.  when they "return to earth" they will be building a 3-d model based on what they discovered.  For this I am going to need some really good space websites, including NASA.  Luckily I anticipated this, and when we were doing the web resources, I found a few more websites I think I will be able to use. 
I am going to have to learn how to develop this for the simpler minds of younger elementary students (even though it is a 5th grade GLCE).  I am going to have to test, retest, and perhaps even give a few kids I know a chance to see if they can follow the procedures.  it has to be engaging and not too hard that they will get frustrated.  I hope to learn how to make a webquest that others will be able to use in their lessons.  By me creating this, it also causes me to look at the subject more in depth and really get to know the information i am going to teach.

I will probably begin the lesson by showing a clip of StarTrek - or something they may be more familiar with (but I like the captain's log Stardate reference!)
Perhaps the webquest will lead them to Miss Frizzel and they can view a short clip of the magic school bus taking us to outer space.

I'm thinking the students will be required to find out how far the planets are away from each other and the sun, as well as their sizes in relation to each other (this will integrate some FRACTIONS!) for their models.  This will require them to take notes, draw pictures, and maybe print some things out. 

I can extend the activity by asking some students to show other moons, temperatures of planets, asking if they think life is possible, etc.

Introduction

Captain's Log, Stardate: Alpha 1965.  You are an astronaut preparing to blast off into outer space.  You will be studying the solar system for 365 days. Your mission is to develop an understanding that the sun is the central and largest body in the solar system and that Earth and other objects in the sky move in a regular and predictable motion around the sun.  You need to understand that those motions explain the day, year, moon phases, eclipses and the appearance of motion of objects across the sky. You will also understand that gravity is the force that keeps the planets in orbit around the sun and governs motion in the solar system.

When you return to earth, you will Design a model that of the solar system that shows the relative order and scale of the planets, dwarf planets, comets, and asteroids to the sun.