Gifted Science Research Project
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/planetaryweather/
Weather in the Solar System Science Research Project 2008
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§ Your group will produce one of the following products:
1. PowerPoint presentation
§ Choose one of the following topic:
Mercury and Venus |
Earth and Mars |
Jupiter and Saturn |
Uranus, Neptune and Pluto |
Humans cause Climate change |
Humans do not cause climate change |
History of Meteorology |
Venus, Mars, and the Goldilocks conditions |
The Space Race |
Mission |
Return to the Moon |
Space Telescopes |
§ A good start for this project will be:
§ http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/planetaryweather/
All Planets
The Planets of our Solar System Explored and Explained
The Solar System
Mercury and Venus
About Mercury
ROG Mercury
Venus
Earth and Mars
Dust Storms Bedevil Mars
Mars: Dastardly Dust
Explore High and Low Pressure Areas
How much water is there on Earth?
Jupiter and Saturn
Stormy Weather: Jovian Superstorms Like Those on Earth
The Planets of our Solar System Explored and Explained
Jupiter
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto
The Planets of our Solar System Explored and Explained
Pluto: Permanent Ice Age
§ Let me know when you find good sites that we can share with the other classes.
Climate Change Project:
· The Al Gore movie would be a good start for one aspect of this topic. The “Great Global Warming Swindle” is another excellent source for the other side. It is available online, but probably not at school.
Space Race Project
· Key terms will be Space Race, Apollo, Mercury, Gemini Programs, space exploration, and man in space. Let me know which others you find.
Space Telescopes
· Hubble of course. Also research the others and the future ones planned.
History of Meteorology
Since the beginning of recorded history, people have been fascinated with the weather. As a result, they have developed interesting ideas about what causes weather and how to measure it. Early on, people developed tools to measure temperature, air pressure, humidity, and other elements of the weather. Have students trace the history of the science of meteorology, using the following Web sites:
History of Meteorology
An Historical Overview of Meteorology
A Short History of Meteorology
Working in small groups, have them create a timeline showing major advances, write biographical sketches of pioneers in the study of the weather, or trace the development of more sophisticated tools to study the weather.
Mission
· Key terms besides the obvious will be Mars Direct and Robert Zubrin. Also discuss past, present, and future plans for this.
Return to the Moon
- Key terms will be Nasa’s Constellation and Orion programs. The Mars link above might be useful also.
Solar System Weather Project
Objective:
¨ Students will:
¨ Learn about weather on their assigned planets.
¨ Compare and contrast might work well for most projects,
¨ Create a PowerPoint that will explain the weather conditions on their assigned planets.
¨ You are limited to 16 slides, total!
Procedures:
Review our weather unit by answering the following questions: Hint: Use your textbook!
1. What is weather?
2. Where does weather take place?
3. What causes weather?
4. How is weather different from climate?
5. What is air temperature?
6. How does altitude affect air temperature?
7. What is air pressure?
8. How does altitude affect air pressure.
9. What is humidity?
10. Explain how clouds form:
Now you are ready to start your research.
You will want to:
¨ Compare the weather on your planets to that of the Earth.
¨ Explain the weather on each planet, being sure to include its atmosphere, air pressure, and humidity.
¨ Include any unusual weather that occurs on your planets.
¨ Explain how that weather occurs.
¨ Include pictures that show the weather on your planets.
¨ Consider a weather report for a typical day on your planet.
¨ Describe the seasons your planets experience.
The usual rubric will be used.
Use the links on my blog for your research.
All Planets
The Planets of our Solar System Explored and Explained
The Solar System
Mercury and Venus
About Mercury
ROG Mercury
Venus
Earth and Mars
Dust Storms Bedevil Mars
Mars: Dastardly Dust
Explore High and Low Pressure Areas
How much water is there on Earth?
Jupiter and Saturn
Stormy Weather: Jovian Superstorms Like Those on Earth
The Planets of our Solar System Explored and Explained
Jupiter
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto
The Planets of our Solar System Explored and Explained
Pluto: Permanent Ice Age
E-library through the school website would be most useful also.
