Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Remember, READ and actually FOLLOW directions.

(After Tuesday,  numbers 1 & 2 are no longer available.  If you would like to do the pretest anyway, come to T2 on Friday during LUNCH.)

1.  Complete the paper survey and turn it in.  

         a.  Use #2 pencil or blue or black ink.

         b.  When asked for your high school, put Rollings Middle School of the Arts.  (This is usually completed by high school students, and in some states, high school starts in the 7th grade.)

         c.  Your grade average is the approximate average of all of your classes so far.

         d.  Anything with an asterisk (*) is optional.

         e.  Remember to bring the survey to me when it is completed.

2.  Return to this page to continue with today's lesson after you complete your Astronomy pretest.  The secret word is on the board.

3.  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, it will NOT be asked in the same order you see it here.  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.  Be sure to check the homework later this week to see when this is due!  This session requires a secret word.  I will give it to you later 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.)

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