Scenario
    Congratulations! Your team has been selected to work on a NASA space project. This project will require your space exploration team to examine the physical and environmental conditions on one of the eight planets other than earth. This mission is of vital importance because environmental projections indicate that the atmosphere of the earth is reaching toxic levels. Scientists project that the toxicity level will increase to an extent that one day human life will be unable to survive. At this time, environmentalists on earth are trying to halt our spiral toward desturction, but there are no guarantees that it is not too late. NASA and the governmental heads of all the countries of the world have elected to expand the research done on the planets in our solar system. It is the goal of this mission to uncover a planet that may be able to support a future form of life. Your exploration team will head the mission to one of the eight planets.

 

Task
    Your team will conduct detailed research on a planet. Upon completion of this research, your team will use this research information to design a creature that could exist on that planet. You are one of eight teams around the world researching each planet in detail.

Questions to answer:

Each team will decide what characteristics a creature must have to exist on the designated planet. After your team has conducted adequate research on the planet, the designs for the perfect creature should be made and detailed drawing and written description of the creature should be provided. This information will be submitted to a team of world-renowned genetic engineers. They will then genetically design and genetically engineer this creature. The creature will be stored in a special environment until it is transported and released on the planet for which it was designed. In the future, each creature will be transported to its designated planet and monitored for 1 year.


Venus seen from the Earth's surface.
Venus is the small light in the left corner.
Resources
    Use the following web sites to find information about your planet.

    Each link will open in a new browser window. When you find what you're looking for just close the new window and you'll be back here.

Views of the Solar System
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/homepage.htm

This site contains background information on all the planets. It includes data tables, text, pictures, movies and sound. The information is readable and easily accessible.

StarChild
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html

This site is designed for students. High School students should select level 2. This site includes a glossary, pictures, text, movies, sounds and data tables. There are also space scenarios and activities.

Astronomy 161 - The Solar System
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/

This is an advanced level of space information, but will be useful to High School students to access specific information about the planets. This site includes pictures of the planets, diagrams and text.

The Nine Planets - A Multimedia Tour of the Solar System
http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/nineplanets.html

This site includes pictures, text and raw data about the planets. Also included is information on space travel, a glossary, appendices, additional web site links, and a multi-media tour.

Welcome to the Planets
http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets

This site includes pictures, text, raw data and a glossary. Just click on the planet of interest. Also includes information on space exploration and technology.

Browse the Solar System
http://wwwflag.wr.usgs.gov/USGSFlag/Space/wall/index.html

This site includes information on planets, pictures, raw data, and additional web site links.

 

Product
Each team will develop a presentation highlighting the features of the planet that would be of interest to scientists and tourists.

1. Your product should be based on factual information about your planet.
2. The presentation should include pictures or graphics, items of interest, possible experiments that could be undertaken on your planet, and possible tourist attractions.
3. Your project should be well thought out, interesting, creative and appealing to the committee who will select the planet for space station development.
4. All members of the group should complete their assigned research tasks and be part of the presentation.
5. Presenters should speak clearly, maintain eye contact with the audience, speak loud enough to be heard by all, and be enthusiastic about their presentation.

Painting of Saturn's rings at sunset as seen from the high atmosphere.
 

Assessment
Check Mr. Dickte's website for the grading rubric.

 

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