Solar System Project:

The purpose of this project is to create a model visual of our solar

system with the entire system scaled to size. This grade will count as three-
tests (3x 100= 300)

Visual requirements:

 Make a Solar System Model/poster to demonstrate the Sun and eight planets
orbiting around it.
 Color your planets as close as possible to the images that you can find in
books or the internet.
 Prepare your display with planetary statistics for each planet.
 To make your project more advanced, develop a scaled model of the Solar
System.
Science requirements:
 You will be graded on accuracy and clarity. You should know and
understand the correct vocabulary that is associated with the solar system
and the units of measure used when describing size and distances in the
solar system in presentation.
 Planets should be placed in proper order from the Sun.
 Planets size and distance from the Sun should be scaled to correct
proportions( Model project only)
 Students should research the composition of the inner and outer planets
and develop a cross section view of one inner and one outer planet he/she
finds the most interesting. This information will be used for final
project report.
 Students must display the scale formula for their project and how he/she
developed it (model project only.)
 Students must research and include planetary statistics for each planet;
data will be placed into an organized data table (must be included in
Model and poster project.)
 Student must remember to use the proper units when discussing their data
during oral presentation.
Research Paper requirements:
 Typed report (2 sets) containing scientific requirements 1 set on the
poster, 1 set to be handed in.
 Include a cover page with name, date, teacher, and period placed in the
bottom right corner
 Information is relevant and well organized.
 Paper should be 2-4 pages long, paragraphs indented, with each sentence
doubled spaced.
 All research sources should be organized into a bibliography (APA) format.
 Student’s research paper must compare and contrast information on the 2
planets they have chosen to highlight in their visual. Information should
include type of planet inner or outer planet, planet’s date of discovery,
astronomer that discovered the planet, planet’s composition and all
planetary statistics (i.e. distance from Sun in A.Us, number of Earth
hours in a day, number of Earth days in a year, number of known moons, and
any distinct features found only on that planet and planet’s atmospheric
composition.)
Types of projects:
Research and poster-

In this type of project you do extensive research on a topic, write a

research paper and do a visual of the main points of what you found in
your research. Many times backboards are used to do the visual part of
this project.

Research and Model-

In this of project you do extensive research on a topic, write a research

paper and do visual of the main points of what you found in your research.
But, in this type of project you build a scaled model to illustrate a
scientific principle, for example a scaled model of the solar system.

Assessment:

Students will be grade according to the attached rubrics. All projects

will have an oral presentation.
 Research Paper Rubric

Name__________________________Topic___________________

Points
CATEGORY 50 44 40 32 Earned

Organization Information is very Information is Information is The information is

organized with well- organized with well- organized, but disorganized.
constructed constructed paragraphs are not
paragraphs and paragraphs. well-constructed.
subheadings.

Quality of Information clearly Information clearly Information clearly Information has

Information relates to the main relates to the main relates to the main little or nothing to
topic. It includes topic. It provides 1- topic. No details do with the main
several supporting 2 supporting details and/or examples topic.
details and/or and/or examples. are given.
examples.

Amount of All subtopics are All subtopics are Most subtopics are Limited information
Information addressed and addressed and addressed and/or is addressed and/or
information information the information information is
presented shows presented shows a presented is not at above or below
that the student basic understanding the student's level student's level of
has an in-depth of the information of understanding understanding
understanding of
the information

Mechanics No grammatical, Almost no A few grammatical Many grammatical,

spelling or grammatical, spelling, or spelling, or
punctuation errors. spelling or punctuation errors. punctuation errors.
punctuation errors

Paragraph All paragraphs Most paragraphs Paragraphs included Paragraphing

Construction include include related information structure was not
introductory introductory but were typically clear and sentences
sentence, sentence, not constructed were not typically
explanations or explanations or well. related within the
details, and details, and paragraphs.
concluding concluding
sentence. sentence.

Total---->

Out of 200

Teacher Comments:

Points will be lost for no works cited page or if they are in the incorrect format
 Oral Presentation Rubric

Name: ____________________________Topic: ___________________Date: _____________

Points
Category 6 5 3 2
Earned

Student presents Student presents Evaluator has Evaluator cannot

information in information in difficulty following follow presentation
Organization logical, interesting logical sequence presentation because there is no
sequence which which evaluator can because student sequence of
evaluator can follow. follow. jumps around. information.

Student Student does not

demonstrates full Student is at ease have grasp of
Student is only able
Content knowledge (more with required information;
to present basic
Knowledge than required) with content, but fails to student cannot
facts
explanations and elaborate. answer questions
elaboration. about subject.

Student uses a Student mumbles,

clear voice with Student's voice is Student incorrectly incorrectly
good volume and clear. Student pronounces terms. pronounces terms,
Delivery
correct, precise pronounces most Hard to hear at and speaks too
pronunciation of words correctly. times. quietly for all to
terms. hear.

Student usually Student

Student maintains
maintains eye occasionally uses Student reads all
eye contact with
Eye Contact contact but eye contact, but information with no
audience, seldom
frequently returns reads most eye contact.
returning to notes.
to the report. information

Presentation takes
Presentation takes Presentation takes Presentation takes
Time Limit between 5 and 7
less than 5 minutes. less than 3 minutes. less than 2 minutes.
minutes.

Total---->

Out of 30

Teacher Comments:

Media Rubric
 Name__________________________Topic___________________

CATEGORY 14 12 10 8

Includes a large Includes

quantity of sufficient
Information was Information was
information and information and
limited or limited or
Requirements moving graphics moving graphics
graphics were not graphics were not
that have been that have been
original original
created by created by
student student

Covers topic in- Includes essential

Includes essential
depth with details knowledge about Content is minimal
information about
and examples. the topic. Subject OR there are
Content the topic but
Subject knowledge several factual
there are 1-2
knowledge is appears to be errors.
factual errors.
excellent. good.

Uses headings or
Content is well
bulleted lists to There was no
organized using
organize, but the Content is clear or logical
headings or
Organization overall logically organized organizational
bulleted lists to
organization of for the most part. structure, just
group related
topics appears lots of facts.
material.
flawed.

Three or fewer Four misspellings

No misspellings or More than 4
misspellings and/or
Mechanics grammatical errors in spelling
and/or mechanical grammatical
errors. or grammar.
errors. errors.

Makes use of Use of font, color,

Makes excellent Makes good use of
font, color, graphics, effects
use of font, color, font, color,
effects, etc. but etc. but these
Attractiveness graphics, effects, graphics, effects,
occasionally these often distract
etc. to enhance etc. to enhance to
detract from the from the
the presentation. presentation.
presentation presentation

Total---->

Out of 70

Teacher Comments:

Scientific Model/Drawings Rubric

Name__________________________ Topic___________________

Points
CATEGORY 14 12 10 8 Earned

Construction Appropriate materials Appropriate Appropriate Inappropriate materials

–Materials or were selected and materials were materials were were selected and
Drawing creatively used or selected and there selected or stray contributed to a poorly
lines are clear. Overall was an attempt at marks detract from designed model or
the drawing is very creative use or drawing or color several stay marks, color
good, color was used there are few stray was not used, was not used, the quality
marks and the of the drawing is poor
drawing is good, quality of drawing is
color was used fair

Scientific Visual indicates a clear Visual indicates a Visual indicates Visual does not
Knowledge and very accurate somewhat accurate relatively accurate demonstrate an
understanding of understanding of understanding of understanding of science
science concept science concept science concept concept presented
presented. presented

Function Visual functions Visual functions Visual functions Major flaws in function
extraordinarily well well or most pretty well, but make it difficult to use
and student can easily structures are student has the model to
enhance the concept drawn accurately difficulty using the demonstrate concept or
or all structures are and are model to few structures are
drawn accurately and recognizable. All demonstrate the drawn and labeled
are recognizable. All structures are concept or many accurately
structures are labeled labeled accurately structures are
accurately. drawn accurately/
recognizable. Many
structures are
labeled accurately

Visual Visual clearly shows Visual shows the Visual shows the Visual does not clearly
appearance the concept and a concept and an concept in some show the concept and
great effort has been effort has been put ways and a limited very little effort has
put into making it into making it effort has been put been put into making it
realistic and functional somewhat realistic into making it realistic and functional
or all and functional realistic and
functional

Labels Every item that needs Almost all items Most items that
to be identified has a that need to be need to be
label. It is clear which identified have identified have Few of the items that
label goes with which labels. It is clear labels. It is clear need to be identified
structure which label goes which label goes have labels OR it is not
with which with which clear which label goes
structure. structure. with which item.

Total ______/70