Planet Invasion

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT Kennesaw, GA Oct. 4 2007 (AP) PLANET EARTH HAS BEEN INVADED by alien life forms of another galaxy. It is your mission to create a new planet on which all of mankind may live.

Your mission if you choose to accept it…….. In groups of 4, you will be responsible for creating a new planet to support human life. Explore each of the existing planets. Choose 1 characteristic from each planet and include it in the creation of your new planet. You will present you proposed planet to the Directors of the Galaxy Development Commission. Which ever planet is deemed most suitable for human life will be the chosen planet. The creators will govern the new planet.

Choose wisely… Good Luck! The fate of all human kind is in your hands. (This message will self destruct in 30 seconds)

Mercury What is the size of the planet? What is the length of days and years? Find 3 interesting facts about Mercury. http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/mercury.html http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/mercury/ http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/choices/mercury1.htm Do you think this would be a good planet for humans to live on? Why or why not?

Venus Why is Venus so hot? What is unusual about Venus’ orbit? Why is Venus called Earth’s “Sister Planet?” How often does Venus rotate? Do you think Venus would make a good place for humans to live? Why or why not? Venus Websites: http://kids.nineplanets.org/venus.htm http://www.solarspace.co.uk/Venus/venus.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus http://www.kidsastronomy.com/venus.htm Do you think this would be a good planet for humans to live on? Why or why not?

Mars Why is Mars called “The Red Planet?” What are the two moons of Mars called? What is the biggest volcano on Mars called? How is Mars similar to Earth and how is it different? Do you think Mars would be a good planet for humans to live on? Why or why not? Mars websites: http://athena.cornell.edu/kids/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars http://www.kidscosmos.org/field-trip-to-mars-kids.html http://www.kidsastronomy.com/mars.htm Do you think this would be a good planet for humans to live on? Why or why not?

Jupiter What is the size of the planet? What is the length of days and years? Find 3 interesting facts about Jupiter. Find at least 1 similarity and one 1 difference between Jupiter and Earth. http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/jupiter.html http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/jupiter/ http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/choices/jupiter1.htm Do you think this would be a good planet for humans to live on? Why or why not?

Saturn Will Saturn sink or float? How many moons does Saturn have and what are their shapes? What are Saturn’s two nicknames? Of what is Saturn’s atmosphere made? How is Saturn similar to Earth? How is it different? Do you think Saturn would be a good planet to live on? Why or Why not? Saturn Websites: http://www.dustbunny.com/afk/planets/saturn/ http://www.kidsastronomy.com/saturn.htm http://www.lunaroutpost.com/library/astronomy_kids/kid_saturn.htm http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/kids/fun-facts-saturn.cfm Do you think this would be a good planet for humans to live on? Why or why not?

Uranus What is Uranus’s atmosphere made of? How many moons does Uranus have? When was Uranus discovered? http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/uranus.html http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/uranus/ http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/choices/uranus1.htm Is Uranus a good place for humans to live on? Why or why not?

Neptune Why is Neptune Blue? Of what is Neptune’s atmosphere composed? What is the temperature on Neptune? How much would you weigh on Neptune? How is Neptune different from Earth? Do you think Neptune would be a good place for humans to live why or why not? Neptune Websites: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-54299/Neptune http://www.dustbunny.com/afk/planets/neptune/ http://www.kidsastronomy.com/neptune.htm http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu//cosmic_kids/AskKids/neptune.shtml Do you think this would be a good planet for humans to live on? Why or why not?

Pluto Why is Pluto called the Dwarf Planet? Pluto’s core and surface consist mostly of what materials? How long does one day on Pluto last in relation to one day on Earth? Why has no one explored Pluto? How is Pluto different from Earth? Could human life survive on Pluto? Why or why not? Pluto Websites: http://www.lunaroutpost.com/library/astronomy_kids/kid_pluto.htm http://www.kidsastronomy.com/pluto.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/pluto/ Do you think this would be a good planet for humans to live on? Why or why not?

Web Quest Evaluation Evaluation Area Questions to Ask Yourself Earned Points Points Possible Participation Did you follow all directions? 5pts Did you use a variety of websites? 5pts Did you do the work by yourself? 5pts Did you make a valid attempt to learn about the planets? 5 pts 20 Missions Was your mission completed? Mission completed (you created a new planet)= 40 points Mission mostly complete (you answered most of the questions correctly and created a new planet)= 20 points Mission incomplete (you answered the questions but didn’t create a new planet)= 10 points 40 Questions Did answer the questions? All answered correctly= 10 points More than half answered correctly= 7 points One question correct= 5 points Did you defend with facts why you created the planet you did? 10 points Is spelling and grammar correct? 10 points Is your writing creative? 10 points