Brief Description

As a result of the decline in the travel industry, the Planet Travel Agency wants to offer something new to the traveling public—tour packages to other planets in our solar system. Students have been given the job of creating a newsletter to entice would-be visitors to another planet. (The Planet Travel Agency will be set up for Buddy Night.) Students use a variety of web sites, electronic resources, and print material for research.

Standards and Frameworks

Technology Standards

Students know and are able to do the following:

• 1T-F2. Demonstrate functional operation of technology components
• 1T-F3. Use developmentally appropriate technology resources to access information
• 3T-F1. Use prescribed technology writing tools for communicating and illustrating
• 3T-F2. Use prescribed technology tools for data collection and basic analysis
• 3T-F3. Use prescribed technology tools for publishing and presenting information
• 6T-F1. Use technology resources for problem solving, self-directed learning and extended learning activities

• 6SC-F2 Identify the planets
• W-F5 Locate and use several sources to write a report
• LS-FS7 Participate in group discussions, activities, or peer interactions

Academic

• Students will:

1. Use persuasive writing techniques in newsletter.
2. Work successfully with peers to complete newsletter.

• Students will:

1. Use the computer as a problem-solving tool to research information.
2. Use Publisher to create a newsletter recommending a planet to visit. The newsletter should include pictures and information about the planet.

• Prior experience with navigating web sites and Microsoft Publisher,
• Creating folders and saving images from web sites or scanning from hard copies

Computer(s) with Internet access, Publisher, Encarta Multimedia Encyclopedia CD-ROM
Paper
Pencils
Floppy disks

Accommodations for Special Needs

Special Needs Students:
Depending on disability and IEP, use peer/adult tutoring and cooperative grouping.  Additional time may also be required.

Procedures
The student web page for this project is located at http://www.amphi.com/~llafaye/space.htm

1. Students are assigned to a team of three. Each team will investigate a different planet. No team will investigate planet Earth. After all, we have visited much of the earth and we have even been to the moon.  Our goal is to entice would-be visitors to other new and exciting destinations in our solar system.
2. One person on each team is to be named the photographer. That person is responsible for collecting pictures of the planet to be used in the newsletter.
3. One person on the team is responsible for data collection. This researcher will record facts for the report.
4. The Newsletter Editor will be responsible for putting the pictures and data together in a Publisher newsletter for distribution in the Planet Travel Agency. The photographer will recommend which images of the planet (and any moons that it might have) should be presented in your newsletter, and the researcher will recommend which facts should be presented.
5. Pull desks together, or go to tables where groups can work together.  Students start by writing down everything that they think they know about the planet the group is researching.  Remind students to not report these things as facts in their newsletter if they cannot find support for them in their research.
6. Next, the photographer should start collecting pictures. Students will set up a file on their computer to collect these pictures. They will save images to the folder and make another copy on your floppy disk.  If students find pictures in a book or magazine that they want to use, they may go to the scanner and save the image to their disk. The next time you are in the lab, students may bring the disk back to your computer and save it into your folder so it is saved in two places—just in case!  The data collector should begin collecting data. Advise them to get the most interesting bits of information they can find. Remember, the information in their newsletter needs to be catchy enough to attract the attention of tourists, and entice them to spend their money on a tour package to a place they haven’t been.
7. After students have collected the pictures and the data, the groups will get together with the Newsletter Editor. They will use Publisher to prepare the newsletter, and you they may want to use a template.   Students may want to include interesting facts that would attract visitors, some information about the weather or atmosphere so visitors will know how to pack, and some information about the history of the planet and its moons.  Remind students to include the names of each group member in their newsletter.

• Projects will be evaluated using the following rubric:

 

Excellent	Advanced	Accepted
We included more than two pictures of the planet or its moons in the newsletter.	We included at least two pictures of the planet or its moons in the newsletter.	We included at least one picture of the planet or its moons in the newsletter.
We listed more than two reasons our planet would be a great place to visit—very persuasive!	We listed more two reasons our planet would be a great place to visit—somewhat persuasive!	We listed at least one reason our planet would be a great place to visit—slightly persuasive!
We have more than two articles in our newsletter.	We have at least 2 articles in our newsletter.	We have at least one article in our newsletter.
Our newsletter is neat and organized.	Most of our newsletter is neat and organized.	The newsletter is readable.
All group members participated fully in this project.	All group members participated in this project.	Some group members participated in this project.