1. Discovering Earth Ashely, Sarah, & Kelly

2. What if you had your own planet ? What is the name of your planet? What color is your planet? Who lives there? What is your planet made of? How big or small is your planet? What shape is your planet? How far away are you from the Sun?

3. Get ready to discover Earth! You will be taking a field trip to Earth! While on Earth, your task will be to find out as much about Earth as you can. Compare Earth to your own planet that you made and live on.

4. Task Directions Each person in the group becomes one of these famous astronauts to achieve the task: Ellen Baker Sally Ride John Glenn Allen Bean Your task is to answer the questions that were given about Earth from the websites. Compare and contrast how Earth is from your group’s planet.

5. Process: For each question asked about Earth, students will have to make up data about their own planet. They will then mathematically find the difference between the two.

6. Questions to explore! What is the diameter of Earth in miles? What is the circumference of Earth in miles? About how many people live on Earth? What percent of Earth is land, and ocean? Is Earth perfectly round? What are the names of the oceans on Earth? How far is Earth from the Sun in miles?

7. Sources (Websites to use for task) Kidsastronomy.com Sciencekids.com Planetfacts.org

8. Evaluation: Students will present their posters of their group’s drawings of Earth. While presenting, student’s still tell the facts and any fun facts they have learned about Earth throughout the process. Collect each groups data log and grade their math.

9. CONGRATULATIONS ! You have just become a Geologist!

10. Extensions Art Projects – drawing their planets vs. Earth Participate in Earth Day Listen to a guest speaker – Famous Astronaut Science and Industry Museum – Field Trip Discussions between roles of famous astronauts the students have taken on.

11. Books for further reading.

12. Standards 11.A.2e Report and display the results of individual and group investigations. 17.A.1b Identify the characteristics and pur­poses of geographic representations including maps, globes, graphs, photographs, software, digital images and be able to locate specific places using each. 4. Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension. Read on-level text with purpose and understanding 2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. Introduce a topic and group related information together; include illustrations when useful to aiding comprehension. Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher led) with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly. a. Come to discussions prepared, having read or studied required material; explicitly draw on that preparation and other information known about the topic to explore ideas under discussion. b. Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., gaining the floor in respectful ways, listening to others with care, speaking one at a time about the topics and texts under discussion). c. Ask questions to check understanding of information presented, stay on topic, and link their comments to the remarks of others. d. Explain their own ideas and understanding in light of the discussion.