Teacher Resources

Visit the Planets

	He was attached to a tether to keep him from floating away. He had to stay within 100 meters of his starting point. At each step, he bounced slightly in the air. Imagine you are an astronaut preparing to visit another planet. How do environments on different planets affect clothing, equipment, and other adaptations necessary for human survival? Step One In 1969 astronaut Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. He was the first person to walk on a surface other than that of the earth. He needed special tools and equipment in order to survive in this different environment. Read about spacesuits at StarChild and then, explore the moon. View this video about Aldrin and Armstrong's day on the moon. Want to know more about Neil Armstrong? Read his biography from SIRS Discoverer.
	The Task NASA has asked you to make recommendations for the clothing, equipment and adaptations astronauts will need when exploring other planets. Your teacher will assign you three planets to research. You will use print, nonprint, and Internet resources to gather information about the special features of the planets. You will use this information to recommend adaptations or creations that will enable the astronauts to survive in other environments.
	The Product Based on your findings about the special features of the planets, your group will create a video quiz show or a display showing the clothing, equipment, and other adaptations the astronauts will need as they explore each of the planets you have researched. Your display must contain: pictures or drawings of the recommended clothing, equipment, or adaptations. a written justification of the need for the clothing, equipment, or adaptations.

Assessment

Grading for this project will be based on daily participation as well as the final presentation.
	Click here to see the scoring tool by which your research process will be assessed. Click here to see the scoring tool by which your group work will be assessed. Click here to see the scoring tool by which the display will be assessed.

Brainstorming Questions

	As you look at the task above, make a KWL chart that will help you to understand and investigate this topic.    What do you already know about the conditions that allow people to survive on Earth? What do you want to know about conditions on other planets in order to prepare for survival?
	Develop a list of questions to be answered during your investigation when considering how the planets compare to earth. Each question should contain only one idea. Jump start your thinking!Try these questions to get you started, then add some of your own. Which factors are most important to enable a person to survive on another planet? How does temperature affect the ability to live on a planet? How was equipment adapted to accommodate different temperatures on surfaces other than the earth? How is the atmosphere of the planet similar to or different from that of Earth?

Creating Graphic Organizers

	Think about how you want to organize your list of questions. You will use a database to record the information you gather about the planets. You must have the following categories in your database: Name of planet Diameter Distance from the sun Average temperature Composition Atmosphere You may add up to 3 more categories to your database. You can create a database using a program such as Microsoft Access, Microsoft Works, or ClarisWorks. You may use the database in print or electronic form.You will use a print copy of the database to take notes as you search for information. Click here to find out more about creating and using a database a database.
	Click here to find out how your database will be assessed.

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