Where Did They Come From?
Original Author: Cami Young
Original WebQuest URL:
http://studenthome.nku.edu/~downsca/space/mywebquest/t-index.htm
Modified By: Judith Vajgrt
Modified Date:
Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Teacher Page
Introduction
Successfully traveling into space by an
American man started in 1961. Some scientists believe that people may live on
other planets within future years. When humans get to live on other planets,
what will one encounter? Your crew will gather information to share with the class.
Each member will create their individual idea of their planet's life form. Now,
your team is going to climb aboard Space Shuttle 207. Take position for
blast off!
Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Teacher Page
The Task
Three classmates are members of the Young 207 crew. Each team member will select one responsibility for the flight (astronomer, photographer, and historian). After completing your flight through the solar system by using selected sites, you will organize the group's information of the designated planet in a way to interest your classmates to further pursue the journey to the planet you researched. Each team member will create a life form that he/she predicts would live on the researched planet to accompany the presentation.
Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Teacher Page
The Process
1. Record the planet name that your teacher has selected you to research.
2. Meet the other members of your Young 207 crew.
3. You are now a member of a three student crew. You must select a job title.
4. You will discover a more detailed explanation of your responsibility on the job title page. You may gather the information individually by taking notes. You can find the answers from the resources listed with your job title. Then meet again as a crew. Click the job title you wish to complete.
Astronomer--This crew member is responsible for finding the
assigned planet's information.
Photographer--This crew member must locate photos and symbols of
the planet to be researched.
Historian--This crew member must research the history of the
planet (discovery/naming of the planet, satellite visits).
5. As a group, you must decide how you wish to present your crew's findings (report, speech, video, PowerPoint, skit, etc).
6. Organize the group presentation and save it until you present your findings
to the class.
7. Brainstorm about your creature that you feel would represent your researched planet.
8. Create your creature to share during your group presentation. Helpful
hints.
9. Present the information and
your creature to the class.
10.
Reflect on what you have discovered from this WebQuest and the class
presentations by making a journal entry.
Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Teacher Page
Evaluation 
You will receive an assessment for your group participation as part of your final grade. Each member of the group will also be graded on the alien creation.
|
|
Beginning 1 |
Developing 2 |
Accomplished 3 |
Exemplary 4 |
Score |
|
Crew member responsibility
|
Has no notes for his/her job and did not complete
the job's task fully |
Has few notes for his/her job and most of the
job's task is completed |
Has many notes for his/her job and all of the
job's task is completed |
Has a variety of notes for his/her job and
completed the job's task with additional information |
|
|
Cooperation
|
Did NOT get along with group members |
Showed very few manners while working with
classmates |
Showed some manners while working with classmates
|
Showed great manners and leadership skills while
working with classmates |
|
|
Creature
|
The creature has NO connection to the
planet researched |
The creature represents the planet researched
in a few ways |
The creature represents the planet researched |
The creature well represents the planet
researched |
|
Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Teacher Page
Conclusion
You now have a greater understanding of our universe, the Milky Way galaxy. If future generations travel to space, you could inform them about what you feel one may encounter. You may also consider what you are observing in the night sky. Is it a planet or a star?
Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Teacher Page
Teacher
Page
Introduction
The original WebQuest was created by Cami Young in
a WebQuest Workshop at
For this WebQuest, the students will visit numerous websites about space and the solar system. After gathering the suggested information, each group will present their findings to the class in a selected presentation method. Each crew member (student) will also create an original creature that he/she feels could survive or represent the planet he/she researched.
Learners
Cami Young created this activity to be used in a fourth grade class. The main focus is science. However, art, language arts, and technology are integrated throughout the WebQuest.
Students with a very basic understanding of the galaxy could complete this quest. On the other hand, reading skills is a must for this activity. Students have to link to various websites provided in the resource and process sections and read to locate the necessary information.
I
plan to begin the WebQuest in the computer lab. I also have two computers in my
classroom where students can work. When working in the classroom setting, the
groups will rotate through the two computers along with using printouts of the
WebQuest. The WebQuest will be a quarter project.
Curriculum
Standards
Earth and Space Science
Ordered Universe
40.
Compare stars, planets, and moons.
•Appearance
•Movement
•Size
•Distance
•Composition
12. Use a variety of media
and technology resources to create and communicate knowledge products across
the curriculum.
14.
Use the Internet to locate
information.
16. Evaluate the relevance
and appropriateness of electronic information resources.
17. Relate search results to
class or individual assignments. 
National Standards (SCIENCE)
NSS 4_4.4 The sun, moon, stars, clouds, birds, and airplanes all have properties, locations, and movements that can be observed and described.
Process
Forming the groups may be the most
difficult part. Students must be able to work together. Students
have to complete a group presentation and an individual "planet
alien".
The Process
1. Record the planet name that your teacher has selected you to research.
2. Meet the other members of your Young 207 crew.
3. You are now a member of a three student crew. You must select a job title.
4. Click the job title you wish to complete. You discover a more detailed explanation of your responsibility.
Astronomer--This crew member is responsible for finding the assigned planet's information.
Photographer--This crew member must locate photos and symbols of the planet to be researched.
Historian--This crew member must research the history of the planet (discovery/naming of the planet, satellite visits).
5. You may gather the information individually from the resources listed with your job title. Then meet again as a crew.
6. As a group, you must decide how you wish to present your crew's findings (report, speech, video, PowerPoint, skit, etc).
Very little teacher knowledge is needed for the completion of this WebQuest. As long is the computer is on and the URL address is typed in correctly, students should be able to manage the quest by themselves. That is if the internet is up and running for the day.
Variations
- Students could research each planet individually.
- Students could use their research for building a solar system.
- Students could select an inner and an outer planet to compare after the group presentations.
Evaluation
The students will be assessed according to the rubric below. If the WebQuest is completed, each student should have some notes/answer for the questions related to his/her job title. The creature they created should have some connection with their planet. See helpful hints for ideas about the creatures.
|
|
Beginning 1 |
Developing 2 |
Accomplished 3 |
Exemplary 4 |
Score |
|
Crew member responsibility
|
Has no notes for his/her job and did not complete
the job's task fully |
Has few notes for his/her job and most of the
job's task is completed |
Has many notes for his/her job and all of the
job's task is completed |
Has a variety of notes for his/her job and
completed the job's task with additional information |
|
|
Cooperation
|
Did NOT get along with group members |
Showed very few manners while working with
classmates |
Showed some manners while working with classmates
|
Showed great manners and leadership skills while
working with classmates |
|
|
Creature
|
The creature has NO connection to the
planet researched |
The creature represents the planet
researched in a few ways |
The creature represents the planet researched |
The creature well represents the planet
researched |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conclusion
This WebQuest will provide your students with space knowledge. Students learn a lot about one specific planet and are introduced to the eight other planets through group presentations. They use their imagination for the creature development. They know how planets are grouped and which movement planets follow in the sky. The class is involved in many aspects of learning throughout this WebQuest.
Permission
Statement
We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is hereby granted for other educators to copy this WebQuest, update or otherwise modify it, and post it elsewhere provided that the original author's name is retained along with a link back to the original URL of this WebQuest. On the line after the original author's name, you may add Modified by (your name) on (date). If you do modify it, please let me know and provide the new URL.