Thursday, January 21, 2010

Remember, READ and actually FOLLOW directions.

CONTINUE with Tuesday's research assignment.

A few NEW details for today:

1)  I have a blue sheet available for you that features a data table with general statistics for each of Sol's planets.  This may be useful in your research.  I have asked the guest teacher to put them in a stack on the table by the door.

2)  If you were absent yesterday, OR you need more time to get the nine definitions in your notebook, please ask for a set of the yellow cards. REMEMBER, you are focusing on the CHARACTERISTICS and the MOVEMENTS of these objects.  You do NOT need all of the information on the yellow cards.  Read and summarize the characteristics and movements.  If you were absent yesterday, please ask a friend to sit with you in the hall with the set of yellow cards and go over yesterday's activity with you.

Please pick up where you left off on Tuesday.  REMEMBER, you are to get all of this information into your notebook.

Solar System Info Hunt (What does "info hunt" mean?  Yes!  You are correct!  Research!  Hunting for information!)

                        a.  These are the questions.  You may use any reasonable resource (Internet sources that you use should end in .edu or .gov.  Be careful of all .com.  Even some .org websites should be used with caution.)  I have put three sources for you at the bottom of the screen.  These are simply suggestions.  Please remember that not every site and textbook in the world has been updated to exclude Pluto as one of our planets.  It is no longer a planet, so please do not reference it as such.  NOTE:  When you turn in your work electronically on Tuesday, the questions will NOT be asked in the same order you have been given today.  This means you MUST take quality notes and record actual information rather than just a series of numbers and letters as your answer choices.

                        b.  After you have found the answers, and you trust you have quality research notes in your notebook, please turn in your answers here.  Select the title, "Sol's Planets ___ period", that matches your class period.  This session requires a secret word.  I will give it to you on Monday so that you can make sure you have taken the time to actually finish the research. (This will be your first grade for the 3rd quarter, and since you have time to do the research correctly, you SHOULD earn an A.  It is DUE TUESDAY, 1/26.)

Possible Resources for Activity Three  

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm

http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/weight/

http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/age/index.html