8TH GRADE 4TH QUARTER PROJECTDue: May 15th, 2013

Introduction

You have been selected to help design a vacation package to one of the planets in Earth's solar system. You and your team will create a company that will put together a vacation package that can safely deliver your clients to your vacation destination. Your team consists of a rocket specialist, spacesuit designer, travel agent and astronomer.

TaskYour company's goals include the following:• Research the planet, identify the challenges it presents to living

things, and create solutions to overcome the challenges.• Produce a vacation package highlighting the special features of

the planet.• Invent a spacesuit that meets the basic requirements for living

things on your particular planet and is capable of enduring the trip.• Generate a travel brochure advertising the vacation in detail.• Design a rocket that has the ability to support life and special

features that would enable it to complete the vacation.• Voyage to your planet if possible (Planet Walk field trip).• Present your vacation package to a group of investors interested

in providing funding for your project.• Be prepared to answer any questions they may ask.

ProcessGroup / Individual Work1. Complete the  Project Profile worksheet. 2.  Brainstorm the needs of living things. 3. Investigate the General Sites found in the resource section. Once you have found a site that contains information about your planet, complete The Needs of Living Things Framework.4. Research the General Sites. Then complete the Physical Characteristics Form.5. Using the Needs of Living Things Framework and the Physical Characteristics form, establish a list of challenges your planet presents. Brainstorm a list of solutions. Save these notes for future reference.6. Based on your destination and the solutions you have proposed, discuss the special features you want to include in the vacation package. Be sure to take notes and save them for future reference.

Breakout Sessions7. Print a copy of your job description: Astronomer, Travel Agent, Spacesuit Designer, or Rocket Specialist. Read the requirements carefully.8. Go to the resource section and search under your topic being careful to take notes as needed.9. Sketch a rough draft of your plan.10. Occupational Conference: At this point you will attend a meeting with others who share your occupation. The purpose of this meeting is to compare notes, discuss challenges, and offer encouragement.11. Company Meeting: Meet with the members of your group to update each other on your findings. Be sure your plan is flowing and that the work you are doing compliments that of the others in your group.12. It is now time for you to focus and begin creating your final product. Refer to your job description and the rubric to determine your progress. Maintain open communication with the rest of your Company to assure that your final project is a package and not separate products.13. Company Meeting: The purpose of this meeting is to plan the presentation of your vacation package. Keep in mind that you will be presenting to investors who are interested in funding your project. Your must persuade, inform, and sell them your idea.14. Presentations. Be professional, speak in a clear voice, and use visual aides to help present your idea.15. Turn in summary of everything you did to contribute to the team. Minimum of 1-page, and must include separate bibliography of resources used.

Resources: General Solar System Infohttp://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/homepage.html http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level1/solar_system.html http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level2/solar_system.html http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/billa/tnp/nineplanets.html http://www.space.com/ http://www.nationalgeographic.com/solarsystem/ http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/index.cfm http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/ http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov http://images.jsc.nasa.gov/luceneweb/whatsnew.jsp http://friends-partners.org/friends/index.html http://www.imageworksstudio.com/index.php?page=Exhibit_Design http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/index.html 

Resources: Sites for Astronomers  http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa http://abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1696218.htm http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/5-8/features http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/index.cfm http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/special/planets.htm http://www.solarviews.com/eng/homepage.htm http://www.windows.ucar.edu http://www.nineplanets.org/ http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/solar_system/ http://www.harmsy.freeuk.com/orrery.html http://www.seasky.org/solarsystem/sky3.html http://science.hq.nasa.gov/solar_system/index.html http://www.kidsastronomy.com/the_planets.htm  

Resources: Sites for Travel Agents  http://www.travelco.com/theCompany/Pressreleases.asp http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/tips_menu.htm http://www.budgettravel.com/ http://home.travelsavers.com/ http://www.freetraveltips.com/ http://www.fodors.com/wire/archives/001901.cfm http://www.fodors.com/wire/archives/001803.cfm http://www.fodors.com/wire/archives/cat_travel_tips.cfm http://www.freetraveltips.com/Packing/ http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html http://www.freetraveltips.com/Before/ http://ontariotravel.net/TcisCtrl?language=EN&site=consumers&key1=travelTools&key2=travelTips http://www.lib.uct.ac.za/infolit/brotips.htm www.brochure-printing-tips.com http://www.imageworksstudio.com/index.php?page=Exhibit_Design http://www.speedcolor.com/  

Resources: Sites for Rocket Scientists    http://edspace.nasa.gov/earthcrew/news/ecn2/index.hml http://www.nasm.si.edu http://www.russianspaceweb.com/kliper.html http://www.nasm.si.edu/education/cybercenter/ http://science.nasa.gov/realtime http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/teachers/rockets/rocketry.html http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/home/index.html http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=159 http://www.spacetoday.org/Rockets/X_Prize.html http://www.spacetoday.org/Rockets/Russia/Proton300.html http://economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=6911220 http://the-edge.blogspot.com/2005/08/new-rocket-designs.html 

 

Resources: Sites for Spacesuit Designers   http://www.fabriclink.com/ http://www.vibrationdata.com/space/suit.htm http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/weight/index.html http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/models/sovietsp/sovsuits.html http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/ http://www.batnet.com/mfwright/spacesuit.html http://www.astronautix.com/craftfam/spasuits.htm http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0875382.html http://www.incredible-adventures.com/space-suits-space-foods.html http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/articles/SuitSat/ http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/chameleon_suit_021106.html http://quest.nasa.gov/space/teachers/suited/8future.html

 

Conclusion

Congratulations, your company is now in business! Write a summary addressing the following questions:1. After listening to each group's proposal, which planet would you want to visit on vacation, and why?2. What was the most interesting thing about your planet you learned?3. What part of your project do your feel went well?4. What could you or members of your group have done differently?5. Offer advice to future students who may participate in the project.6. Peer evaluation

Rubric for grading

See Handout