We Need Another Moon

Linda FeehsSeventh Grade Science

Introduction• by Craig Lechman, Penryn Elementary School

• We need another moon! Earth's resources are running out in the future and it is your job help to find a solution!

• Introduction• Our planet Earth is almost out of Natural Resources (fresh water, minerals and

fuel) and breathable air. Through our actions, we have used up almost everything we need to live on our planet. NASA has come up with a solution that is the most ambitious project ever undertaken in human history: they are going to bring a moon from another planet to Earth and place it in orbit. The new moon will be a resource to the human race here on Earth.

• You are the future scientists NASA has named to select the moon that will be brought here to Earth. You must identify the moon, describe the moon's resources, why it was chosen and create a bulletin board to explain your decision.

Task

• Task• You are going to develop and present a

Resource Moon Bulletin board about the moon you select to bring to Earth, the moon's natural resource to be used on Earth, and why your selected moon is the best choice.

Process• Process• Scientists, you will work with your team leader (your teacher) to decide Scientific roles for this project. You

are all Research Scientists, but you will need:• 1. Two Presenting Scientists• o They will present your New Moon Bulletin board to the class.• 2. Art Scientists• o They will draw and find pictures needed.• 3. Computer Scientists• o They will navigate the Websites for the project.• 4. Production Scientists• o Everyone will work on the Bulletin board.• Day 1: • 1. Begin by visiting the website Super Green Me as a class and read with your teacher and Computer Scientists

the section titled: Do we really need another earth already? Find the United States on the graph in this section. You will need to list the number of Earths currently needed to support life if the whole world lived like the United States on the Resource Moon Bulletinboard you will create as a class. Using the handout sheet with the sentence, "The number of Earths currently needed to support life if the whole world lived like the United States is _____," write down the number from the graph. Collect these to be used on the bulletin board.

Process, cont. • 2. As a class, go with your Computer Scientists to Scientific American-Earth's Resources and after the

introduction, watch each of the five short videos about specific resources that are limited. Discuss which resources you are concerned about as a class and using pencils and paper, Art Scientists will draw visual organizers and pictures of the natural resources from the videos. Collect these to be used on the bulletin board.

• Day 2.• 1. Watch the short video at Save Our Planet and review as a group your concerns about natural resources and

then choose to research a moon to be used for one of the following resources:• Water• Fuel• Minerals/Metals• 2. As a class, go to NASA-Moons of Our Solar System and look up information on the three following moons:• o Titan, orbiting Saturn• o Ganymede, orbiting Jupiter• o Enceladus, orbiting Saturn• 3. As a class, discuss the natural resources to be found on each of Titan, Ganymede and Enceladus. Decide

which moon would be most beneficial to bring to Earth and why. Using pencils and paper, Production Scientists will draw concepts maps and visual organizers to organize data on your chosen moon. Collect these for possible use on the bulletin board.

Process, cont.• 4. Using magazines, clipart and drawings, collect pictures to be used on the bulletin board. Pictures of Earth, your

Resource Moon, and your identified resource are good places to start. Decide how the pictures and drawings will be used on the bulletin board and whether or not they should be included.

• Day 3• 1. All Scientists on the Resource Moon Team will work together to construct the Resource Moon Bulletin Board. • 2. Resource Moon Bulletin Board Directions:• o The bulletin board must have the title: Resource Moon Bulletin Board• o You can use die-cut letters, Word documents or drawings to make the title.• o At least one copy of the handout collected.• o The bulletin board must be divided into three sections:• o Natural Resource • o The Resource Moon• o The Moon's Use• o Each section must contain:• o Pictures and drawings relevant to the section• o A visual organizer, graph or concept map• o At least one sentence, written or typed, describing the section• o Each section must be clear and well organized and free of clutter. • o Included only what is needed.

Process, cont.• Day 4• 1. You, as the Scientific Team will discuss and review the Resource Moon Bulletin Board you have

constructed. Reflect on this and other ways we can conserve, recycle and create new ways to meet the increasing need for resources we have on planet Earth.

• 2. Invite students from other classes to come in and look at the bulletin board and be prepared to answer their questions.

• Resource Web Links:• Super Green Me• Save Our Planet • Scientific American-Earth's Resources• NASA-Moons of Our Solar System

Evaluation

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1 Participation Used time well during each

class period. Focused on getting the project done. Never distracted others.

Used time well during each class period. Usually focused on getting the project done and never distracted others.

Used some of the time well during each class period. There was some focus on getting the project done but occasionally distracted others.

Did not use class time to focus on the project OR often distracted others.

Construction of Visuals Several of the Visuals used on the bulletin board reflect a exceptional degree of student creativity in their creation and/or display.

One or two of the Visuals used on the bulletin board reflect student creativity in their creation and/or display.

The Visuals are made by the student, but are based on the designs or ideas of others.

No Visuals made by the student are included.

Relevance of Data All materials are related to the topic and make it easier to understand. All borrowed materials have a source citation.

All materials are related to the topic and most make it easier to understand. All borrowed materials have a source citation.

All materialsrelate to the topic. Most borrowed materials have a source citation.

Materials do not relate to the topic OR several borrowed materials do not have a source citation.

Bulletin Board The bulletin board includes all required elements as well as additional information.

All required elements are included on the bulletin board.

All but 1 of the required elements are included on the bulletin board.

Several required elements were missing.

Participation in Discussion Student can accurately answer all questions related to facts in the bulletin board and processes used to create the bulletin board.

Student can accurately answer most questions related to facts in the bulletin board and processes used to create the bulletin board.

Student can accurately answer about 75% of questions related to facts in the bulletin board and processes used to create the bulletin board.

Student appears to have insufficient knowledge about the facts or processes used in the bulletin board.

This is how your work will be evaluated.

Making A Bulletin Board : We Need Another Moon

Conclusion

•As a class, discuss the decision to bring another moon to Earth for its resources. •What are some other ways in which we can increase our natural resources? •How can we conserve the resources we have?•What are the differences between renewable and non-renewable resources?•In what other ways could this project have been displayed or expressed?•How could this project be improved upon?

References• Credits• Globe Image copyright 2007 Microsoft Corporation• Moon image retrieved from Flikr Stock Repository• Moon's Orbit copyright 2009 Florida Center for Instructional Technology • Author Biography• Craig Lechman

I have been a Special Education teacher for the last 11 years. As a County Office of Education teacher, my classroom has moved multiple times over the years. I view my classroom as a kind of ship that ports for a few years at a new school before moving on again. My students and I are ambassadors who are responsible for demonstrating how my classroom population and staff are vital contributors to our campus culture.

PermissionsWe all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is granted for others to use and modify this WebQuest for educational, non-commercial purposes as long as the original authorship is credited. The modified WebQuest may be shared only under the same conditions. See the Creative Commons Attribution • Non-Commercial• Share-Alike license for details.