Solar System Project Due April 21

At-Home Planet Project

Have fun with this learning project! Be creative! Here are the guidelines for this work-at-home project:

Guideline #1: Include and label the sun. (Sun needs to be 3-D.)

Guideline #2: Include and label 8 planets. (Planets need to be 3-D.) (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)

Guideline # 3:Planets should be in the correct order from the sun.  

Guideline #4 : The size of the planets should be relative to one another.  Small planets need to be small, and large planets need to be bigger.

Guideline #5: The color of your planets should be accurate.

Guideline #6: For each planet, tell the true distance from the sun, the number of moons it has, and one interesting fact about that planet. (This part can be 2-D. For instance, facts can be written or typed on a notecard or paper. See the bottom of page for an example.)

Guideline #7: You must use resources (books, magazines, or internet) to get your information. See below for help on how to cite or list your resources.

Guideline #8: This project is to be completed mainly by YOU, the 5th grader. Get parent help only when needed. (Store bought kits will not produce the highest grade.) Some of the best projects are made from things found around the house.

Guideline #9: This project can be no bigger than a poster board, and should be able to be carried by you, the 5 th grader. We will display all projects in our hallway.

Guideline #10: Projects are due on April 21st. You may begin bringing in your completed projects on April 19th .

In addition to the required elements students can earn extra credit for other objects in the solar system which are properly represented and labeled.  This includes moons, dwarf planets, the asteroid belt and Kuiper belt.

	0 points	1 points	2 points	3 points	4 points
Creativity		The project was copied out of a book/off the internet or is a store bought kit.		The student used materials to design an original, easily recognizable solar system model.	The student used materials to design an original, easily recognizable solar system model.  The student used unique and/or unusual materials to create the project.
Neatness		Sloppy, poorly executed; looks like it was completed very quickly; difficult to read.	Sloppy, evidence of some previous planning; hard to read.	Well planned, neat, easy to read. Excellent model; planets are easy to identify.	Well planned, very neat, clear labels. Excellent model; planets are easy to identify.
Guideline #1: Include and label the sun. (Sun needs to be 3-D.)	No sun		Sun is not labeled	Sun is 2 dimensional and labeled	Sun is 3-D and labeled
Guideline #2: Include and label 8 planets. (Planets need to be 3-D.)	Planets are not labeled				All 8 planets are labeled
Guideline # 3:Planets should be in the correct order from the sun.					Planets are in the correct order from the sun
Guideline #4 : The size of the planets should be relative to one another.  Small planets need to be small, and large planets need to be bigger.			.	.	Sizes are relative to each other
	0 points	1 points	2 points	3 points	4 points
Guideline #5: The color of your planets should be accurate.				Planet color is mostly accurate	Planet color is accurate
Guideline #6: For each planet, tell the true distance from the sun, the number of moons it has, and one interesting fact about that planet.	No information included	Information is included, but not the required information	Includes 1 of the 3 pieces of  required information	Includes 2 of the 3 pieces of required information	Includes distance from the sun, number of moons and one interesting fact
Guideline #7: You must use resources (books, magazines, or internet) to get your information.	No resources listed.		One resource listed	Two documented resources listed, all from reliable sources from books, magazines and/or the Internet	Three or more documented resources listed, all from reliable sources from books, magazines and/or the Internet
Guideline #8: This project is to be completed mainly by YOU, the 5th grader.		Student work is less than parental help	Student work is equal to parental help		Student work exceeds parental help
Guideline #9: This project can be no bigger than a poster board, and should be able to be carried by you, the 5 th grader		Bigger than a standard poster board, this includes tri-fold display boards			Project is smaller than a poster board 28” x 22” and less than 15” in depth
Guideline #10: Projects are due on April 21. You may begin bringing in your completed projects on April 19th.	More than 3 days late	Three days late	Two days late	One day late	Turned in on time
BONUS: Objects in the solar system which are properly labeled and represented

Examples of Listing Your Resources:

• For books, list the title and author.  (Remember book titles are underlined.)

Example: The Solar System by Ima Smart

• For magazines, list the title of the publication and its date (month & year).

Example: “Time For Kids” March 2011

• For websites, list the complete site.  

Example: http://www.ehow.com/list_5970122_ideas-3d-solar-system-project.html

This week at a glance...

We wrapped up our unit on Force and Motion last week. This week starts our new topic... The Solar System and Beyond

We are also working on colonization and early colonial times in social studies.

Below is the list of new vocabulary words. The first test on these words will be next week, Thursday 3/16.

1. atmosphere the layers of gas that surround Earth, other planets, or stars

2. axis the imaginary line on which an object rotates (e.g., Earth’s axis runs through Earth between the North Pole and the South Pole); an imaginary straight line that runs through a body.

3. constellation  a star pattern identified and named as a definite group; usually thought of as forming certain shapes or figures in a specific region of the sky

4. equator an imaginary circle around Earth’s surface located between the poles and a plane perpendicular to its axis of rotation that divides it into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

5. galaxy a large collection of stars, gases, and dust that are part of the universe (e.g., the Milky Way galaxy) bound together by gravitational forces

6. gravity the observed effect of the force of gravitation

7. moon  a natural satellite that revolves around a planet

8. moon phase a phrase that indicates the fraction of the Moon’s disc that is illuminated (as seen from Earth); the eight moon phases (in order): new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, waning crescent

9. planet a large body in space that orbits a star and does not produce light of its own

10. reflection the bouncing off or turning back of light, sound, or heat from a surface

11. revolution the closed path an object such as the Earth makes as it moves around another object

12. rotation the spinning of the earth on its axis - about 24 hours

13. solar system a star and all the planets and other bodies that orbit it; the region in space where these bodies move

14. star a large, gaseous, self-luminous body held together by gravity and powered by thermonuclear reactions

15. Sun the closest star to Earth and the center of our solar system

 

16. universe the total sum of all matter and energy that exists

17. comet: a celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a “tail” of gas and dust particles pointing away from the sun.

18. Asteroid : a small rocky body orbiting the sun.

Update

Students are working hard to understand force and motion.  We've been using lots of hands on investigations for them to grasp the concepts.

There will be a vocabulary quiz Friday Feb. 24th.

Words to Know

Vocabulary _ Force and Motion

1. Force—A push or a pull that one object exerts on another object with or without direct contact (e.g., friction, gravity). Causes a change in speed or direction.

1. Push or Pull:

1. Balanced forces—forces that are equal in size but opposite in direction.
2. Unbalanced forces—forces that are unequal in size and may or may not be opposite in direction.

2. Types of Force:

1. Buoyant force -the upward force exerted on an object by water.
2. Gravitational force - the pull of all objects in the universe on one another.
3. Magnetic force - the force produced by a magnet.
4. Friction—a force that opposes motion through direct contact

3. Measurement of Force

1. Net force - the combination of all the forces acting on an object.
2. Newton – (N) the unit of measuring force
3. Weight—a measure of the force of gravity on an object.

3. Motion – the change in position of an object over time with respect to a reference point.

1. Position - the location of an object in space.
2. Acceleration – the rate at which velocity changes
3. Speed—the distance traveled by an object in a given amount of time.  Measured in distance per time, such as miles per hour (mph)
4. Inertia - the property of matter that keeps it at rest or moving in a straight line.
5. Velocity – the speed of a object in a particular direction

This Week

We are wrapping up our unit on Energy and Electricity. As a whole they ROCKED the test.

Tuesday we will finish up the few stray tests that need to be taken have a few more hands on experiences to enrich their understanding of this topic.

Wednesday starts our next unit on Force and Motion. The vocabulary words for this unit are below. There is not going to be a vocabulary quiz this week since they are just getting these words. The first vocabulary quiz will be next Friday February 17th.

Vocabulary _ Force and Motion

1. Force—A push or a pull that one object exerts on another object with or without direct contact (e.g., friction, gravity). Causes a change in speed or direction.

1. Push or Pull:

1. Balanced forces—forces that are equal in size but opposite in direction.
2. Unbalanced forces—forces that are unequal in size and may or may not be opposite in direction.

2. Types of Force:

1. Buoyant force -the upward force exerted on an object by water.
2. Gravitational force - the pull of all objects in the universe on one another.
3. Magnetic force - the force produced by a magnet.
4. Friction—a force that opposes motion through direct contact

3. Measurement of Force

1. Net force - the combination of all the forces acting on an object.
2. Newton – (N) the unit of measuring force
3. Weight—a measure of the force of gravity on an object.

2. Work - the use of a force to move an object through a distance

1. Simple Machine - a device that makes a task easier by changing the size or direction of a force or the distance over which the force acts.

1. Types of Simple Machines:

1. lever - a bar that makes it easier to move things.

1. fulcrum - the balance point on a lever that supports the arm but does not move.
2. resistance – the

b.  inclined plane - a ramp or another sloping surface.

1. wedge
2. screw

c.  pulley - a wheel with a rope that lets you change the direction in which you move

    an object.

                1)  wheel and axle - a wheel with a rod, or axle, in the center.

2. Compound Machine – combination of two or more simple machines that makes a task easier by changing the size or direction of a force.

3. Motion – the change in position of an object over time with respect to a reference point.

1. Position - the location of an object in space.
2. Acceleration – the rate at which velocity changes
3. Speed—the distance traveled by an object in a given amount of time.  Measured in distance per time, such as miles per hour (mph)
4. Inertia - the property of matter that keeps it at rest or moving in a straight line.
5. Velocity – the speed of a object in a particular direction

Station Links

Research it Click here

Watch it--- Video 1 and 2 are the same video
Video 1
Video 2

Students will continue to learn about energy and energy transfer.  There will be a vocabulary quiz on Friday covering both the forms of energy and electricity words.  We will also be taking a test on what we have covered so far.

Students will also be learning about early explorers and settlement.

Vocabulary                                                                       Energy and Electricity

ENERGY

Energy — the ability to do work or cause change; can be changed into different forms and can move between objects. 

FORMS OF ENERGY:

·      Chemical Energy — energy that can be released by a chemical reaction

·      Electrical Energy — energy that comes from an electric current

·      Light Energy — energy that we can see directly.  Light energy can be:

o   Absorbed—To take up and store energy without reflecting or transmitting that energy

o   Reflected — the bouncing of heat or light off an object

o   Refracted — the bending of light

·      Mechanical Energy—energy an object has due to its motion or position

·      Nuclear Energy—energy caused by the splitting of atoms

·      Solar Energy — energy that comes from the sun

·      Sound Energy — energy in the form of vibrations that travel through a substance

o   Pitch — a measurement of how high or low a sound is; depends on fast or slow vibration

o   Vibration – the rapid movement of an object back and forth

·      Thermal Energy — energy caused by heat

TYPES OF ENERGY:

·      Kinetic Energy - energy of motion

·      Potential Energy – energy based on position or condition

ELECTRICITY

Atom—the smallest unit of an element; containing the same properties of the element

·      Neutron—a particle within the atom (subatomic) that carries no electrical charge; it has a neutral charge

·      Proton—a particle located in the nucleus of an atom (subatomic) that is positivelycharged

·      Electron-–a particle within an atom (subatomic) that has a negative charge

Charge—a measure, can be positive or negative; force of electro magnetic interaction.

·      Positive—an electric charge with more protons than electrons; the opposite of a negative charge

·      Negative—an electrical charge in which there is a build up of electrons; the opposite of a positive charge

Static Electricity – electric charges that build up or collect on an object.

Attract—to pull or draw towards

Repel—To force or push away.

Electrical Energy —energy that comes from an electric current

·      Current —the flow of electric charges through a material

·      Circuit —a closed path that an electrical current can flow through

·      Conduct —To transmit heat or electricity through a medium.

o   Conductor—materials that allow heat, electricity, or sound waves to pass through; a substance that allows electrical charges to travel.

o   Insulator—A material used to reduce or prevent the transfer of electricity, heat, or sound.

Electromagnet — a metal object that acts as a magnet when an electric current moves through it; giving it magnetic properties

Generator — a machine that converts mechanical energy into electricity