BLAST OFF!

A Virtual Field Trip Through

OurSolar System

Created by:Sonya SpiresFourth Grade

All illustrations are courtesy of:Microsoft Word Clipart unless otherwise

noted

SCIENCE Learning indicators:

4-3.1 Recall that Earth is one of many planets in the solar system that orbit the Sun.

4-3.2Compare the properties (including the type of surface and atmosphere) and the location of Earth to the Sun, which is a star, and the Moon.

Technology Standards

NT.K-12.4 Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences

NT.K-12.5 Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources

Standards:

This virtual field trip is divided into 3 different Learning Zones that will be completed over the course of ten days.

In Learning Zone 1, students will experience a flight simulation through the Solar System. The teacher will present and guide this portion of the lesson using the Smartboard. While traveling through space, the teacher will use the pause button to stop and read each slide and initiate brief discussions. Use the “x” in the right corner to exit any link and return back to the slideshow.

In Learning Zone 2, students will work with a partner in

the computer lab to collect more nuggets of learning involving distance between the planets as well as the atmospheric and ground properties of the planets, moon and sun.

. In Learning Zone 3, students will work independently in

the computer lab posting evidence of their learning on our class blog. Preselected games have also been integrated for those who finish early.

Student will use a “Flight Log” which includes an assessment rubric to guide and record their learning experiences.

Teacher Notes:

Today we are going on a VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP to :

OUTER SPACE You might be asking yourself a ton of

questions………. Raise your hand if you are thinking any of the

following:

DAY 1: Greetings Earthlings!

“What in the world is a virtual field trip?”

“Does our principal know that there is a space shuttle being delivered to our school grounds?”

“Will I look fashionable in a spacesuit?”

And MOST important……………(drum roll please)

“WILL WE BE BACK IN TIME FORLUNCH and RECESS????”

Pictures courtesy of: Microsoft Word Clipart

The great news is we can travel and learn anywhere in the WORLD or beyond using the computer.

To help you adjust to traveling and learning while you are aboard the

R. S. E. S. Enterprise,

your trip has been divided in to three different Learning Zones.

Pictures courtesy of: Microsoft Word Clipart

All of these are important questions!

In Learning Zone 1, while traveling near many of the planets, we will work together as a class using the Smartboard.

In Learning Zone 2, you will work with your partner in the computer lab to collect more nuggets of learning about the distance between objects in our solar system.

In Learning Zone 3, you will work alone in the computer lab posting evidence of your learning on our class blog and you will also create one page for our class science fiction book.

All illustrations are courtesy of: Microsoft Word Clipart unless otherwise noted

I completed the mission in TEN days. I have a clear and organized Flight Log. I have posted the planets in order on the class blog. I have recorded true and verifiable facts about each planet. I have posted two comparisons using the properties of the

sun, the moon and the planets. I have discussed my favorite part of the trip on the class blog. I have posted one question on the class blog to open up more

discussion with my classmates or teacher. I have used my Independent Reading time to search for

answers to classmates’ questions. I have worked cooperatively with my partner and class. I have contributed one page to our class science fiction story

on Kerpoof.com Pictures courtesy of: Microsoft Word Clipart

Assessment Rubric- You will earn 10 points for each star completed on your journey.

Before we can leave on our mission, we will meet some fellow international crew members from NASA!

Your international team members have sent you a little “snapshot” of their experiences in space using the link at the bottom of this page.

One skill that all astronauts have to develop is data collecting and recording in a Flight Log. This is so they can remember all that they have experienced while in space. This information could be important to future space missions.

Find the following title in your FLIGHT LOG: “Day 1 Learning Zone 1” (see next slide)

You will begin recording data about your crew members when I click on the link below.  http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/nowinspace/Crew_24_on_ISS.html All illustrations are courtesy of: Microsoft Word Clipart unless otherwise noted

FLIGHT LOG: Day 1 Learning Zone 1

1. What types of jobs are available on space teams at NASA?

2. What qualities might be needed for this job?

3. List two facts about crew member-Mr. Kornienko?   4. What do you find interesting about Doug and Shannon’s adventure?   5. Why are there “rays” on the Expedition 24 patch?   6. What do you notice around the edge of the badge for Expedition 24?   7. Today you will meet the class partner that I have assigned to you.

Together you will create your own “team badge” in the space provided on the back of your Flight Log. Remember to write a brief explanation about the individual elements of your design.

   

___________________________________   ___________________________________   ___________________________________   ___________________________________     ___________________________________     ___________________________________     ___________________________________     ___________________________________            

Before we can leave, we must first MEMORIZE the path that we will take. It is vitally important that we remember the correct order of the planets as they are related to the sun so that we do not waste precious time and resources during our journey!

Join together with three other teams and try to arrange the following word cards into a logical sentence. You will write down your response in your Flight Log.

Hint: Use what you know about sentence structure to help you find the correct order. (Distribute word cards to teams.)

Next we will click on the link below, read the short article and see if your team has come up with the correct response. We will learn how this sentence can be helpful to us on our journey. We will also look at six comparison graphs that will help us learn more

about each planet.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/

THE COUNT DOWN CLOCK reads :21 minutes until LIFT OFF!

excellent

just My us very mother

sent nine pizzas!

We are now ready for departure. Buckle up and prepare for LIFT OFF! Just sit back, look through the dashboard and enjoy the flight first.

We will watch this segment a second time, (using the PAUSE and BACK buttons so that we can slow down the text) and fill in the information requested on your FLIGHT LOG.

Copy on next slide  

When I click on the link below…….PREPARE FOR LIFT OFF!

http://www.spacewander.com/USA/english.html

FLIGHT LOG: Day 2 Learning Zone 1

FLIGHT LOG: Day 2-A Learning Zone 11. What does NASA use to help counteract the sound and thrust of this shuttle’s lift off

11. Mars also has __________________________. Larger than any on Earth.

2. Because there is no atmosphere in space to carry the waves, there is no _____________ in space.

12. How long will it take us to travel from Mars to Jupiter?

3. How many hours does it take a space shuttle to reach the moon?

13. What is found between Jupiter and Mars? ___________________

4. Watch the speed odometer, how fast is this shuttle traveling?

14. Jupiter is the _________________ planet. Eleven times the size of Earth.

5. Document the temperature at this time? 15. What photo did we take from our shuttle?

6. Record the difference in temperature on the Day Time side of the moon _____ and the Night Time side of the moon. _______________

16. The small black dot on Jupiter is a____________________ of one of its SIXTY ONE moons!

7. How long will it take a spaceship to get to Mars?

17. Jupiter is made up of ___% hydrogen, _____% helium, and trace amounts of ammonia and water.

8. How does Mars compare to Earth’s temperature and why?

18. What would you need to survive on Jupiter?

9. Describe how Mars looks just outside our shuttle? 19. What is the Red Spot on Jupiter that is three times the size of earth and has lasted 300 years?

10.Scientist believe that millions of years ago Mars contained ______________________ and ___________________ but they are unsure what happened.

20. Next we will travel to Saturn. (16,800 miles) Round off the distance to the nearest thousands._____________________________________

FLIGHT LOG: Day 3 Learning Zone 2In Learning Zone 2, you will work with your partner. Assist one another in the locating, reading and recording of the required information in the Flight Log using the following link. http://www.space.com/php/popup/virtualspacetour/noad_astropedia.php

Helpful Hint: Click on “virtual tour” in the center of the screen. Click on the SUN icon in the upper right hand corner. The MOON icon is directly across. Turn off sound if you find it distracting. Use the “x” to return back to this slide.

BONUS: If you finish early try: FLIP TIME MEMORY GAME -match up a digital clock with an analog clock. If you are successful, your plane will take off! Click on the word HOME and you can try additional games on Kids Club. When you are done, close out the game and you will return to the next part of the trip.http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/games/levelfour/KC_Flip_Time_Memory.html

DISTANCE Description Description Description

Moon/Earth:

Sun/Earth:

IN LEARNING ZONE 3, you will work alone creating a post for our class bog.

First, write your rough draft on the blank pages provided in your FLIGHT LOG.

Be sure to include the following three artifacts in your writing:

1: List the planets in order according to their relationship to the Sun.

2: Share an interesting or unique fact about each of the planets that we visited on our trip.LINK:http://www.space.com/php/popup/virtualspacetour/noad_astropedia.php

3: Share the parts that you particularly liked. Do you enjoy learning in this matter? Is there anything that you are still “wondering” about that was not covered session.

4. Access our Class Blog here Class Blog

Consult the RUBRIC provided in your FLIGHT LOG to insure that you are earning all available points.

FLIGHT LOG: Day 4 and Day 5Learning Zone 3

To close out this great virtual field trip, we will create a science fiction story using the web page Kerpoof.com. You job is to write and design ONE page for our class book combining facts from your Flight Log with fictional elements! Be sure to read all the pages that have been created before yours so that we will have a book full of different ideas!

The following log in information is also in your flight log.

Click on the star below. Log in (sdspires and password web2.0). In right corner click on backpack icon. Click on page icon in the middle. Read pages already posted. Add your own.

Day 6 and Day 7 Extra! Extra! Read All About It

 Closing group activity:

Using the SMART BOARD, click the Gameboard icon to the right to conduct a class game of …………………………………“GO TO THE HEAD OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM”

Go To The Head of the Solar System

Graphics and Charts created using Microsoft Office Word (2007) Clipart

Internet Links: Nasa Government, “Now in Space,” “Flip Time Game,” and “Go To The Head of the Solar System” Nasa Kids Club, (July 2010) http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/nowinspace/Crew_24_on_ISS.html

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/games/levelfour/KC_Flip_Time_Memory.html http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/games/levelfive/KC_Solar_System.html

Enchanted Learning (July 2010)

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/

Space Wander Permission to use granted via email (July 2010) http://www.spacewander.com/USA/english.html

Virtual Space Tour, (July 2010) http://www.space.com/php/popup/virtualspacetour/noad_astropedia.php

Mrs. Spires’ Class Blog (Created July 2010 in Web 2.0 class) http://g106.edublogs.org/2010/07/08/solar-system-virtual-field-trip / Mrs. Spires’ Class Science Fiction Story (Created July 2010 in Web 2.0 class) Kerpoof.com

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