Planet Travel Brochure Guidelines

Someday space travel may be a regular option for vacations. Imagine a future where commuting to Saturn or Venus for work is a weekly occurrence. The sixth grade classes in DC Virgo Preparatory Academy are on a fact finding mission. The mission is to create a brochure and presentation to promote your teams planet as the Number One Travel Destination in our Solar System. Your teams job, as a leading travel agency, is to entice the public into plan ning exotic vacations through your agency. Since your agency is located on Earth, the main focus of advertising will be on trips to the other seven planets. STEP 1 GATHER INFORMATION You are to select a planet of the solar system. There will be 2 teams for each planet. Remember that Pluto is no longer a planet but can be selected as long as its demotion to a Dwarf Planet is explained. Get to know your planet. Read as much information about the planet as you can find. You will need a minimum of two resources, one internet and one book. You can use our classroom library, the Internet, or your own books. As youre reading about your planet, take notes on key information. This will be part of your grade. Keep track of the sources you use, because you will need to create a works cited page as well. You will have time in class to work on the research. Any work that is not completed in the allotted class time will be homework. STEP 2 PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTNG YOUR BROCHURE As a travel agency executive, design a brochure to boost the sale of a vacation package offered by the agency to one of the planets in our solar system. Each team member will create their own version, then as a team they will brainstorm the best parts of each members design for a final version. You will need to create a 3 fold brochure using a Publisher format for a planet of your choice. Explain what is so special about this planet and why everyone should come and work or vacation there.

Section 1: 1

Name of your planet, picture of your planet, a descriptive phrase about your planet that would make someone want to visit, and your name and class period. Section 2: Position in the Solar System:
1. Where is your planet located (for example, Earth is the third planet from the Sun)? 2. How far from the Sun does it orbit?

Orbit:
1. How long does it take for your planet to orbit the Sun? (This is one year on Earth.) 2. Is its orbit unusual?

Rotation on its Axis:

1. How long does it take for your planet to rotate on its own axis? (This is one day on Earth.)

Appearance of your Planet:

1. What does your planet look like? 2. Are there any special things on your planet? 3. Include 4 pictures of your planet.

Section 3: Size:
1. How big is your planet? 2. How does it rate in terms of the other planets in terms of size (is it the biggest, the smallest)?

Mass:
1. What is your planets mass? 2. How does its mass rate in terms of the other planets (is it the biggest, the smallest)?

Moons:
1. Does your planet have moons? 2. How many? 3. If there are moons orbiting your planet, describe them and when they were discovered.

Rings:
1. If there are rings orbiting your planet, describe them 2. When were they discovered?

Section 4: Composition of your Planet:

1. What type of planet is it (is it rocky or a gas planet)? 2. What is its internal composition?

Gravity:
1. What is the force of gravity at the surface of your planet? (For example, what would a 100-pound person weigh on your planet)? 2. Use http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/weight/ to determine what your weight would be on your planet.

Atmosphere:
1. What is the composition of the atmosphere of your planet?

2. Is it a thick or a thin atmosphere?

Temperature:
1. What is the temperature range on your planet?

Section 5: Something Special:

1. Is there anything special about your planet? This can often be the best part of this brochure, taking you off on interesting topics. a. For example, are there 100-year long storms on your planet? b. Are there giant volcanoes? c. Does your planet have a very tilted axis giving it extreme seasons? d. Have space crafts visited your planet? If so, what have they discovered? e. Is your planet in an orbit with another solar body? BE CREATIVE. (1 paragraph minimum)

Section 6:
1. Tell why someone should visit this planet, what they might be able to see or do, what they will remember most about their visit, etc. You might want to include things they would need to be careful of, what clothes, what food, equipment, etc. to bring. 2. Remember, your goal is to persuade travelers to visit your planet because its the Number One Travel Destination in our Solar System. (1 paragraph min.)

STEP 3 CREATE YOUR WORKS CITED PAGE You will need at least two sources for this project, one online and one book. Keep track of your sources on index cards. Then, cite your sources on a separate sheet of paper with a proper heading. List all of your sources using the appropriate format. We will spend time in class reviewing the appropriate format and you will receive a sample works cited page. STEP 4 PRESENT TO THE CLASS Just like a travel agent would promote their favorite travel destination, this will be your opportunity to promote your planet to the class! This will be established in a Museum Walk presentation for parent night.

Check point:_______ April 25, 2014______________________________ Your planet research should be complete by this date.

Due Date:___________ May 2,2014_____________________________ You will hand in your planet research, brochure, and works cited page in a folder.

On-Line Resources Astronomy Glossary Use this glossary to look up astronomy terms. The Planets This site has details on each planet and offers two different reading levels. Enchanted Learning: Planets with Graphs This site not only shows you the planets, but also provides information about the mass, density, and temperature of each planet. Solar System Simulator See a view of a planet from any other planet at any time, day, or even year. Use the arrows to select the time, date, etc., and the computer does the rest. This allows students to get different views of the planets. Mars Image Gallery View movies that feature life on Mars. Also includes images of asteroids, lunar activities, and more. Field Guide to the Universe This site offers basic information and statistics on each planet in the solar system. Maps of the Solar System This site has lots of images. Many are of the planets' outer atmospheres. There are surface images for most of the terrestrial planets. Space.com Image Gallery Students can look at different moons in the solar system. NOTE: The site includes ads. Welcome to the Planets This NASA site has many images of the different planets. Solar System Live Follow the links to view a graphic of the solar system. You can adjust the time and observation site. BBC: The Solar System Read an overview about the planets and click on the links for more specific information. NOTE: The 'Talk' link leads to message boards. The Moon and the Planets Astronomy magazine provides a short profile on the solar system. NOTE: The site includes ads. KidsAstronomy.com Click on the 'Make A Solar System' link to open a page that lets you create your own universe. NOTE: The site includes ads. Solar System Coloring Book This site has online coloring pages of the sun, planets, asteroids, and comets. Enchanted Learning: Solar System Model This site has instructions for making a model of the solar system. Astronomy for Kids Click on the links to read brief facts about the eight planets. ThinkQuest: A Virtual Journey into the Universe This interactive site focuses on the planets in the solar system. Solar System Exploration excellent site that provides all of the data you will need to complete this activity.

Planet Fact Sheet

Planet Travel Brochure Rubric

Criteria Excellent 10 points Worked well in class and did not distract others / Planet research (notes) Section 1
o o o o o Descriptive phrase Name and homeroom Planet picture/name Spelling and grammar Creative and colorful

Above Average 8 points

Average 6 points

Below Average 4 points

Low Performance 2 points

Section 2
o o o o Followed directions Accurate information Spelling and grammar Creative and colorful

Section 3
o o o o Followed directions Accurate information Spelling and grammar Creative and colorful

Section 4
o o o o Followed directions Accurate information Spelling and grammar Creative and colorful

Section 5
o o o o o o Followed directions Accurate information Well written * One paragraph min. Spelling and grammar Creative and colorful

__ x 2 = __

__ x 2 = __

__ x 2 = _

__ x 2 = __

__ x 2 = __

*Proper paragraph structure

Section 6 *
o o o o o o Followed directions Accurate information Well written * One paragraph min. Spelling and grammar Creative and colorful

__ x 2 = __

__ x 2 = __

__ x 2 = _

__ x 2 = __

__ x 2 = __

*Proper paragraph structure

Works Cited

Name: ________________________________ Period: ________ Date: ____________

I have read and understand Ms. Ellisons Planet Travel Brochure project guidelines, rubric, and due dates. If this statement is true please sign below.

_____________________________________________ Student signature

_____________________________________________ Parent signature