Introduction
Prepare the vacation of a lifetime for your customers. You have been chosen to help design a vacation package to one of the planets in the solar system. As a team you will choose one of the following planets; Earth, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Pluto or Neptune. Your team willl create a company that will put together a vacation package that can safely deliver your customers to your vacation destination. There are 4 jobs or occupations each person on your team must choose; a rocket specialist, spacesuit designer, travel agent and astronomer.
Task
Your job as a team is to research information about your planet. You and your team will need to collect information on the following:
•identify the challenges it presents to living things, and create solutions to overcome the challenges.
•Produce a vacation package highlighting the special features of the planet.
•Invent a spacesuit that meets the basic requirements for living things on your particular planet and is capable of enduring the trip.
•Generate a travel brochure advertising the vacation in detail.
•Design a rocket that has the ability to support life and special features that would enable it to complete the vacation.
•Present your vacation package to a group of investors (Teachers/Media Coordinator or Administrators) interested in providing funding for your project.
•Be prepared to answer any questions they may ask.
Process
As a team you will complete the following tasks or assignments:
1. Complete the Project Profile sheets.
2. Brainstorm the needs of living things.
3. Use a book to complete The Needs of Living Things Framework worksheet. Remember to check the copyright date of the book to ensure you are using the most current information about your planet.
4. Research the General Sites and complete the Physical Characteristics Information Form.
5. Using the Needs of Living Things Framework and the Physical Characteristics form, establish a list of challenges your planet presents. Brainstorm a list of solutions. Save these notes for future reference.
6. Based on your destination and the solutions you have proposed, discuss the special features you want to include in the vacation package. Be sure to take notes and save them for future reference.
7. Read over your job description: Astronomer, Travel Agent, Spacesuit Designer, or Rocket Specialist. Read the requirements carefully.
8. Using the resource worksheet search under your topic being careful to take notes as needed.
9. Create a rough draft of your plan.
10. Occupational Conference: At this point you will attend a meeting with others who share your occupation. The purpose of this meeting is to compare notes, discuss challenges, and offer encouragement.
11. Company Meeting: Meet with the members of your group to update each other on your findings. Be sure your plan is flowing and that the work you are doing compliments that of the others in your group.
12. It is now time for you to focus and begin creating your final product. Refer to your job description and the rubric to determine your progress. Maintain open communication with the rest of your Company to assure that your final project is a package and not separate products.
13. Company Meeting: The purpose of this meeting is to plan the presentation of your vacation package. Keep in mind that you will be presenting to a group of investors who are interested in funding your project. You must persuade, inform, and sell them your idea.
14. Presentations. Be professional, speak in a clear voice, and use visual aides to help present your idea.
Mercury
Evaluation
Team Reflection
Once your project and presentation is complete
Congratulations, your company is now in business! Write a summary addressing the following questions:
1. After listening to each group's proposal, which planet would you want to visit on vacation, and why?
2. What was the most interesting thing about your planet you learned?
3. What part of your project do you feel went well?
4. What could you or members of your group have done differently?
5. Offer advice to future students who may participate in the project.