Amazing Race Through Space

A WebQuest for 6th Grade, Sky Science

Gillian Wallsten & Kimberly Epp

nine planets Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | ICT Outcomes

Congratulations! You have been selected as a participant in the latest edition of the Amazing Race into Space. You will be placed on a team with four other contestants. You will venture into space to perform various tasks. The goal is to be the team to return with the most scientifically accurate information. You may run into roadblocks as you search for information; your success will depend on your teamwork, research and problem-solving skills as well as your ability to persevere.

The Task

As a group you will be exploring and investigating the challenges of living in outer space. To make the task easier you will be dividing the work amongst your group members thereby becoming individual experts upon which the whole group can rely. Each group will consist of:

HEALTH and SAFETY EXPERT
PLANETARY GEOLOGIST
TECHNOLOGY EXPERT
HISTORIAN

As a group you will be preparing a PowerPoint presentation.

The winning team will be chosen based on the accuracy and depth of their research information and more importantly the creative thought they have used to support their conclusions.

The Process

1. First you will be assigned to a team of 4-5 members.
2. Read and assign the roles. Click on the role below to see your assignment.
3. Become familiar with the task you will need to accomplish in your role.
4. As a group you will be putting together a PowerPoint presentation in which each of you will contribute 2 PowerPoint slides.

ROLES AND RESOURCES FOR GROUP MEMBERS

HEALTH and SAFETY EXPERT - Analyze your research and choose the key information that would be important to know prior to attempting space travel. Organize your information along with appropriate graphics on 2 PowerPoint Slides.

PLANETARY GEOLOGIST - Analyze your research. Select a planet that is would be the most suitable for continued space exploration. What characteristics that make this a good choice? Support your choice with the researched information you have gathered. Organize your information along with appropriate graphics on 2 PowerPoint Slides.

TECHNOLOGY EXPERT Slides - Analyze your research and select one that you think has been the most successful in advance our knowledge of space. Support your choice. Organize your information along with appropriate graphics on 2 PowerPoint Slides.

HISTORIAN Slides - Analyze your research and choose two events that you feel are the most important developments in the history of space. Support your choice. Organize your information along with appropriate graphics on 2 PowerPoint Slides.

Upon completion of your research and the development of your slides, your group is to set up the plans for a space research project to a planet of your choice. You will decide what planet you are to visit. Using the information that you have gathered on the physical features of the planet, the safety concerns that would arise from these features and the dangers that would be met on the voyage you are to determine what dangers would be present to the people on the trip. The Technology Researcher will help determine the equipment that is available to the voyagers. As a group you are to create 3 to 4 PowerPoint Slides to show your conclusions of these dangers and the technology that is available to overcome them. These are to be added to the end of your slide presentation.

Evaluation

The winner of this race will be chosen based on the accuracy and depth of the information

The rubric given below will determine your grade for the project. Use it as a guideline to help you and your group complete your presentation.

	Beginning 10 points	Developing 15 points	Accomplished 20 points	Exemplary 25 points	Score
Content	Powerpoint - less than 5 slides. Project minimally addresses task. More than 3 spelling and/or grammatical errors.	Powerpoint -5 slides. Project addresses task. 3 spelling and/or grammatical errors.	Powerpoint - 5-7 slides. Project addresses task. Text is well-written. No spelling and/or grammatical errors.	Powerpoint - More than 7 slides. Project addresses task. Text is well-written. No spelling and/or grammatical errors.
Visual Appeal	No graphics. Use of fonts, sizes, styles not consistent. No background. Use of colors makes text unreadable.	1-3 graphics. Fonts, sizes, styles, somewhat consistent.	3-5 graphics. Fonts, sizes, styles consistent and enhance readability of text. Good use of backgrounds and color.	5 or more graphics. Graphics enhance text. Good use of white space to enhance readability. Fonts. sizes, styles consistent and enhance readabiltiy of text. Professional in appearance.
Presentation	1-3 minutes. Minimal eye contact. Unfamiliar with text. Little clarity of speech.	3-5 minutes. Some eye contact. Somewhat familiar with text. Some clarity of speech.	5 minutes. Good eye contact. Familiar with text. Good clarity of speech. Good posture. Takes questions from the audience.	5-10 minutes. Good eye contact. Very familiar with text. Excellent clarity of speech. Good posture. Takes questions from the audience.

Conclusion

Congratulations. The research that you have collected and the recommendations that you have made in regard to space travel will help ensure the safety of future excursions into the unknown regions of space. You will have contributed to helping mankind increase the knowledge of what is out there beyond our atmosphere!

ICT OUTCOMES

Last updated on March 9, 2005; Based on a template from The WebQuest Page