Introduction
Our Solar System! What do you already know and what do you want to know?
Research tasks begin with questions. When we are investigating our Solar System, there are so many questions to ask. Many have been asked before and this is how we can find out what is already known about our Solar System. Yet how do we know what we know?
Today's task is a brief overview and exploration of our Solar System so that you can write down any new things you have discovered and any questions you have for further exploration. Over the coming weeks, you will be exploring these questions about the planets, and about people and organisations that have contributed to our understanding of our Solar System.
Enjoy exploring our Solar System and make sure you have your questions ready to investigate.
Task
TASK
Your task is to work with your partner to gather and record information about the planets in our Solar System and ask at least three open-ended (thick) questions about each of the planets for further exploration over the coming weeks.
Process
With your partner, divide the task in half so that you explore four planets each using the following links to discover as much as you can about the planets in our Solar System.
Click on each link below and record at least three interesting facts that you discovered in your Solar System Booklet.
Ask at least three open-ended (thick) questions about each of the four planets you explore in your booklet.
You will explore the NASA website and other websites further in the coming weeks.
This week, each person in the partnership should spend about 8 minutes per planet (four planets = 32 minutes approx) for the task.
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/mercury/needtoknow
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/venus/needtoknow
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/earth/indepth
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/mars/needtoknow
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/jupiter/needtoknow
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/saturn/needtoknow
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/uranus/needtoknow
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/neptune/needtoknow
Evaluation
The Evaluation provides a concrete explanation of how performance will be evaluated. This is usually accomplished through the creation of a rubric.
| ABOVE | SOUND | WORKING TOWARDS | |
| FACTS | More than three interesting facts about four planets recorded. | Three interesting facts about four planets recorded. | Fewer than three interesting facts recorded or facts on less than four planets. |
| QUESTIONS | More than three open-ended (thick) questions asked. | Three open-ended (thick) questions asked. | Fewer than three thick questions asked or basic (thin - yes/no questions asked). |
Conclusion
This WebQuest is simply an introduction to our Solar System. It is designed to stimulate curiosity about the planets in our Solar System, and encourage you to think about what you would really like to find out.
In the coming weeks, we will be exploring the planets in our Solar System in-depth. We will also discover how we know what we know about our Solar System. We will investigate the people, cultures and institutions that have contributed to and still broaden our understanding of the universe, including our Solar System.
By the end of this WebQuest, you should have at least 3 facts about the planets and at least 3 questions ready to explore over the next two weeks in your planet research teams.
Below are some links to get you started.
NASA (2017) National Aeronatic and Space Administration: Planets.
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/ viewed 16th July 2017
This link contains information about each of the planets in our Solar System.
NASA (2017) National Aeronautic and Space Administration: Our Solar System: Our Galactic Neighbourhood:
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/solarsystem viewed 16th July 2017
This link explains what a solar system is.