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Planet Research: Home

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Big Idea: Students will create models to show patterns, scale, and portions of objects in the solar system.

Guiding Questions: What makes up our solar system? How can data be analyzed to show scale properties such as the size and distance of objects within our solar system? 

Objective: Create a scale model demonstrating the size and distance within our solar system. 

Project Overview: You will be in a group. Each group member will be in charge of researching something in our solar system (sun, planet, asteroid belts). After your research, you will write a paragraph informing people about your topic. Then, your group will come together to create a to-scale model of our solar system on a large piece of butcher paper. Each group member will be in charge of their own part of the solar system, but you need to work together to make sure all your model is to scale.

Directions and Helpful Links

STEP 1: RESEARCH

Directions: You will be researching one of the planets in our solar system. Use the Google slide template linked below to take notes while you research. When you click on the link, it will force you to make a copy. Further directions are in the slides. Use the links for your solar system topic on this page to begin your research. 

DATABASE LOGIN AND PASSWORD INFORMATION:

  • World Book
    • User ID: bv229
    • Password: wldbk
  • Britannica
    • User ID: bluevalleysd
    • Password: learn

STEP 2: LIST OF FACTS

Directions: Create a new Google doc. Write a bullited list of facts informing people about your solar system topic. You should have at least 8 bullet points (or 8 facts listed) Include any important information about your solar system topic that you research! (Hint: you should have information on your list from each of the Google slides from your research notes.)

STEP 3: SCALE MODEL

Directions: As a group, create a scale model of our solar system! Each group member will be in charge of their own solar system topic, but you need to work together to make sure your solar system is to scale! 

Blue Valley Library Media | Blue Valley School District #229 | Overland Park, KS 66223