Planet WebQuest

Leading up to the Web Quest:

The FBI has contacted Belcher Labs in search of certified astronomers for a top secret mission.
Unfortunately Belcher Labs are short on qualified astronomers. I have decided to offer a short
course for those interested in becoming a certified Astronomer.

(Introductory lesson, including vocab and an overview of planets.)

Conclusion of lesson:
The FBI has approached me to help them find some reliable, trustworthy astronomers to consult
them with their secret mission. Now that you are all certified I recommended you. If you would
like to participate I will need you all to sign a confidentiality agreement. As I have said before
this is a top secret mission and can only be trusted with the best of the best astronomers. I will let
you take home this confidentiality agreement. Read over it, think about it, and return it
tomorrow.
Introduction:
The following information is classified:
Within the FBI is a secret unit called the Extraterrestrial Agency or ETA. This is a secret agency
that deals with extraterrestrials that pose a threat to our planet. Nobody knows that this agency
exists. There has been a recent discovery of extraterrestrial life on our planet. Fortunately the
ETA have found and retrieved the alien. Researchers are studying specific species so that the
ETA is aware of any threats we may face. According to our researchers this extraterrestrial is
only a child. The ETA wishes to return this child to its home planet. We need your help figuring
out which planet this species resides on. I am trusting you with the case file that will give you
details that you will need to solve this case. Remember this is a covert operation. Speak of this
with no one but your partner!
Tasks:
Tasks: This is what you'll do
The ETA will assign you a partner. You and your partner will investigate and research each
planet. The ETA requires a report to be filed for each planet. Once all planets are investigated the
ETA will provide you a case file of the extraterrestrial. Then you will match the characteristics of
the alien to each planet to find where the rest of its species resides.

Process:
Process: Here are the steps you will complete
Day 1

Use the resources provided to research the following planets:

Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
Fill out a Planet Report for each planet.

Day 2

Use the resources provided to research the following planets:

Mercury, Uranus, Earth, and Neptune
Fill out a Planet Report for each planet.

Day 3

Review the case file provided to you by the ETA. The case file is located under the
Resource tab.
Review your Planet Reports
Match the characteristics that the extraterrestrial needs to live with the characteristics of
each planet to determine which planet its species lives on.
You will finish this mission by writing a short report on your findings. Please include the
planet that you have chosen and the reasons why you chose this planet.

Bonus

Fill out a Planet Report for Pluto

Write a short paragraph on an Investigation Report explaining why you think Pluto
should or should not be a planet.

Resources:
The Solar System: http://www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_system.htm
The 9 Planets: http://kids.nineplanets.org/
Planets For Kids: http://www.planetsforkids.org/
NASA Solar System: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/
National Geographic: http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/planets/
Not enough information? Try using Kid Rex: www.kidrex.com

Case File #1039-4531-67-03:

Evaluation:

4 points
WebQuest is
completed on
time

All work is
completed and
pasted into
your ISN

Correct planet
is chosen with
supporting
reasons in your
investigation
report.

Investigation
report includes
the correct
planet with 3
or 4 supporting
details.

3 points
The WebQuest
work is
complete but
not all in your
ISN
Investigation
report includes
correct planet
with one or
two supporting
details.

2 points

1 point

The WebQuest
is completed
but no work is
in your ISN

The WebQuest
work is not
complete.

None of your
work is
completed.

Investigation
report includes
incorrect planet
with 1-2
supporting
details or the
correct planet
with no

You do not
complete your
Investigation
Report.

Investigation
report includes
the incorrect
planet with 3
or 4 supporting
details.

0 points

supporting
details.
Written work
has correct
grammar,
punctuation,
and spelling
All Planet
reports are
filled out
thoroughly

Written work
contains 0
errors.

Written work
contains 1-2
errors.

Written work
contains 3-4
errors.

Written work
contains 5-8
errors.

Written work
contains 9 or
more errors.

Planet reports
are complete.
No box is
empty.

1 Planet
Reports are not
complete.

2-3 Planet
Reports are not
complete.

4-5 Planet
Reports are not
complete.

6 or more
Planet Reports
are not
complete.

Planet Cutouts
worksheet is
colored, and
pasted in
correct order

Cutouts are
neatly colored
and pasted in
correct order in
your ISN.

Cutouts are
colored and
pasted in your
ISN.

Cutouts are
colored and
pasted in
incorrect order
in your ISN.

Cutouts are not

colored or in
correct order.

Neatness in
coloring and
writing

All coloring is
neat and
writing is
legible.

Coloring and
writing are
complete but
rushed.

Coloring and
writing are
sloppy.

Coloring is not
colored all the
way and
writing is hard
to read.

Writing is not
legible and you
did not color.

Team
Participation

You and your

teammate both
participated
and did your
part to
complete the
project to the
best of your
abilities.

You and your

teammate
rushed through
the project
without doing
your best.

On team
member did
more than the
other.

One team
member did all
the work.

Team did not

work together.

Scoring Guide
A= 28-26 points
B= 25-23 points
C= 22-20 points

Cutouts are not

pasted in your
ISN.

D= 19-17 points

Conclusion:
Conclusion: To conclude your mission follow these steps

Complete a short report on your findings. Make sure you include the planet that you have
chosen and the reasons why you chose this planet.
To conclude this mission complete the Planet Cutouts by coloring, cutting, and pasting
each planet in the correct order of the solar system in your ISN.
Once everything is completed double check your ISN. Make sure you glued your Planet
Reports, investigation report, Planet Cutouts handout, and any bonus work you
completed.

MISSION COMPLETE
Congratulations! You have cracked the case. The ETA would like to thank you for all your hard
work and expertise. This mission may not have been completed without your help!

Done early? Here are some things to do while you wait on your fellow astronomers to complete
their mission:

BrainPOP: https://www.brainpop.com/science/space/
NASA Space Games: http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/menu/play/
E-Learning Planets: http://www.e-learningforkids.org/science/lesson/planets/
Astronomy Kids: http://www.kidsastronomy.com/fun/
Fun Facts: http://www.fun-facts.org.uk/planets/planets.htm

Confidentiality Agreement:

Investigation Report:

Planet Report:

Planet Cutouts: