The Planet Project **Due date: Monday, November 24, 2008** Assigned date: Monday, October 27, 2008

In this project you will:

• Research an assigned planet in our solar system.
• Create a PowerPoint presentation of at least 20 slides showing what you have learned. See the attached rubric for all the requirements.
• The last slide before your bibliography slide should be a quiz slide with one quiz question based on your presentation content for the class to answer. Please do not ask questions that require very specific numbers.

• Prepare two graphs comparing all the planets with regards to:
• Volume or
• Distance from the sun or 
• Number of satellites.
• This must be submitted in a report folder and is not included in the PowerPoint.
• Make an oral presentation to the rest of the class using your PowerPoint on the SmartBoard as a visual aid. See the attached rubric for the requirements.
• Write a short opinion essay deciding whether Pluto should be a planet, dwarf planet or a member of the Kuiper Belt.
• Include at least five points to back up your argument.
• Include the reasons why Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet. This essay must be included in your report folder.
• Essay should be at least one and a half pages long, 12 font, double-spaced and Times Roman or similar font
• On August 24, 2006, an international panel recommended that Pluto be demoted to “dwarf planet” status. The need for a strict definition was deemed necessary after new telescope technologies began to reveal far-off objects that rivaled Pluto in size.
• Submit an outline of your PowerPoint along with your graphs, bibliography and opinion essay on Pluto in a report folder.

Information on the planets can be accessed from the following websites:

http://www.seds.org/nineplanets/nineplanets/nineplanets.html

http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/welcome.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/planets/

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/planets.html

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5631291

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/5282440.stm

Total Points – 400

• Report Folder (120 points)
• Planet comparison graphs (choose 2)            60      __
• Volume                                                 
• Distance from the Sun                 
• Number of satellites                     
• Opinion essay on Pluto (see requirements)   40          __
• PowerPoint Outline                                         15          __
• Rubric                                                               5           __
• PowerPoint Content – Required elements and accuracy. (200 points)

Should include all the requirements as well as additional information. (The PowerPoint outline should be included in the report folder)

• At least twenty slides                                10          __
• Distance from the Sun in astronomical      10       __   units and kilometers
• History of planet’s name                          10          __
• Discover of the planet                              10          __
• Planet diameter in kilometers                   10          __
• Mass & volume relative to Earth              10          __
• Atmosphere (Does it have one? If so        10          __ what is its composition?)             
• Temperature                                            10          __
• Surface features                                       20          __
• Satellites-number & names                        10          __
• Periods of rotation & revolution              10          __
• Magnetic field (Does it have one? How     10          __ strong is it?)
• At least five other interesting facts          20          __
• Quiz question                                           10          __
• Title & Bibliography slide                         10          __
• At least eight planet photographs                 8            __         
• Rubric headings (bold items above)             7           __
• Spelling, grammar & font 40                          15          __
• Creativity and graphics (40 points)

The graphics and photographs used should be relevant, attractive and reflect student creativity in their creation or display. See attached rubric.

• Student presentation of PowerPoint (40 points)

See attached rubric.

• Bonus – Prize

Each presentation will have a question for you to answer. So listen carefully to each presentation & take notes! The person(s) with all or the most correct answers at the end will get a prize.

Creativity  - 40 points

Your PowerPoint/Poster should be attractive, colorful and easy to read. Include a title, headings in the rubric and your name. The title should be visible from six feet. The following rubric will be used to grade your creativity:

Oral Presentation  -  40 points

Your presentation should last 1-3 minutes (1 – Acceptable; 3 – Exceptional ). You should summarize the main points covered in your PowerPoint or poster. You may refer to index cards. The following rubric will be used to grade your presentation: