Third Grade Is Out Of This World 

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Be sure to consider the following factors about your planet before making your decision:
 

•     size
•     distance
•     climate
•     geographical features/landforms
•     natural resources

• To work collaboratively to gather, organize, and present information about your planet.

• To individually write an essay persuading NASA which planet would be the best location for the planetary base.

A Place to Start:
The following resources will help you find information about the planets.  Clicking on any of the blue underlined URL's will link you directly to preselected Internet sites. All the books can be found in our classroom at Palos West School.  TAKING NOTES IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
 
 

The Solar System and Beyond                                               DK Publishing

The Magic School Bus                                                             Scholastic

Black Holes                                                                             DK Publishing

Jupiter                                                                                   Mulberry

Mars                                                                                       Mulberry

Uranus                                                                                    Mulberry

The Sky is Full of Stars                                                         Harper Collins

The World Around Us                                                            Kingfisher

Discovering Our Solar System                                              Perfection Learning Corporation

The Universe Think Big!                                                         The Millbrook Press

The Starry Sky                                                                      Simon & Schuster

Is There Life in Outer Space?                                              Harper Collins

Space                                                                                      Scholastic

What is the Moon Like?                                                          Harper Collins

The Planets in Our Solar System                                           Harper Collins

A Book About Planets and Stars                                            Scholastic

To Space and Back with Sally Ride                                        Beech Tree Paperback
 

Videos:
 National Geographic: Exploring the Solar System

Space, Earth, and Atmosphere

CD - Roms:
Views of the Solar System

Redshift 2

Model:
The Planets

Each team will be responsible for creating a research project about
their planet in the form of a postcard, poster, display board, or using Hyperstudio or Powerpoint, etc.  Your presentation to the class should include the following information about your planet:  size, distance, climate, geographical features/landforms, and natural resources.

After the class presentations, each of  you will be responsible for writing a persuasive essay to NASA indicating which planet in your judgment would be the most suitable location for the proposed planetary base.
 
      
 

This page was updated on October 30, 2003.

This page is maintained by Pat Carter, Ann Gardner, Pam Daly, and Lee Schumacher, Palos West School. To the best of our knowledge these sites are active and "kid safe" as of 30 October 2003.

"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind" - Neil Armstrong

Written for the District 118 Embracing Engaged Learning Professional Development Project, funded by the State of Illinois.