Earth to Class

Richard Pearson
Bloomfield H.S., Bloomfield, NJ

The Space Exploration Project 2006!

(Oh, No! J)

PURPOSE: To research a space exploration mission (all unmanned except for the Historical Comparison / Debate option), and communicate the goals and science of the mission with others.

ASSIGNMENT: You must research a current, recent past (major science since 1990), or planned space exploration mission. Pay close attention to the mission goals, plans for realizing those goals, and plans for overcoming problems. If choosing an active or past mission, focus on problems solved. Also, the on-board instruments and how they are used to discover new information is very important.

Option #1: Make a children’s book. Explain your chosen mission at an elementary grade level; use of any graphics, pictures or artists’ renditions can help. However, if you use any of these things, you must cite the source of these photos – the web address will be fine. If you would like to create your own drawings, please feel free if it will enhance the book. You should concentrate on the basics in the book, such as “what will we find out”, “where is it going”, “when did it leave / how long it will be there”, and “what it will use to find things out”. You will need to present your book and at least two copies to the class. A brief (less than 3 minute) oral explanation of your book is required. This option may be done with a partner, and must be done on an unmanned mission.

Option #2: Make a 7 to 10 minute oral presentation on a space exploration mission. Explain your chosen mission to your classmates; a visual note organizer for your peers (like the Biome chapter or HR Diagram Lecture) is required. This note organizer can also help you organize your presentation into manageable pieces. Using Powerpoint for your presentation is not required; however a visual aid of some sort is required. Therefore, if you choose not to use Powerpoint, please see the me for poster paper to use for your presentation. This option may be done with a partner, and must be done on an unmanned mission.

Option #3: Make an oral historical comparison (7-10 minutes) of missions. Explain briefly the two mission programs (scientific goals, technologies used, etc.), and show how they are similar and how they are different. Powerpoint may be used, but is not required; a visual aid and a visual note organizer are. You may see the teacher for any supplies that you need. This option must be done with a partner, and must be done on manned missions.

Option #4: Write a diary of a past mission, or a hypothetical mission to Mars, or the Jovian system (Jupiter & its moons). This must be a manned mission, you must work alone, and the diary must not be written from the perspective of a human. So, choose a mouse that sneaks aboard, a lab animal, a robot; you may come up with whatever your creativity can! However, this must explain all the particulars of the mission, like option #1. The primary objective of this option is using your creativity to create a story in which you learn about the mission, and/or the problems that were/will need to be solved over the course of it. A brief (less than 3 minute) oral explanation of your diary/mission is required.

TIME SCHEDULE: Friday, February 10^th – Hand out project & rubric / Web orientation

Thursday, February 16^th – Approval of projects & partners

Tuedsay, February 21^st to Friday, February 24^th – Research in Media Center

TBA – Powerpoint Orientation (If Needed)

Friday, March 17^th – Draft / Outline due – conference with Mr. P (Test Grade)

Friday, March 24^th – Final Project due (all Visual Aids, note organizers, etc)

Monday, March 27^th through Friday, March 31^st – Sharing of all projects (2 Tests)

Tuesday, April 4^th – Test on all Missions covered. (Test Grade <#4> )

RUBRIC CRITERIA:

Option #1 - A) Information regarding scientific purpose & duration of mission

B) Information regarding methods of gathering mission data

C) Information regarding any mission problems / planning

D) Integration of text and pictures

E) Sharing of book – Oral Presentation

Option #2 - A) Information regarding scientific purpose & duration of mission

B) Information regarding methods of gathering mission data

C) Information regarding any mission problems / planning

D) Quality of Visual Aid (Powerpoint or Poster)

E) Oral Presentation

F) Quality of Note Organizer

Option #3 - A) Information regarding each program and scientific reasoning behind it

B) Information regarding each program’s place in history

C) Information comparing / contrasting each program

D) Quality of Visual Aid (Powerpoint or Poster)

E) Oral Presentation

F) Quality of Note Organizer

Option #4 - A) Information regarding scientific purpose & duration of mission

B) Information regarding methods of gathering mission data

C) Information regarding any mission problems / planning

D) Creativity in presentation

E) Integration of text and pictures

F) Sharing of Diary – Oral Presentation

RUBRIC – GRADE EQUIVALENCIES

A project of this nature which requires such extensive work requires me to have a very stringent grading scheme. Option 1’s rubric has 20 available points; Option 2-4’s rubrics have 24 available points. If an attempt, no matter how shabby, is made at this project, I will award a 50 grade. Grades for the draft will be extremely generous; the intent is to make sure that all research has been completed, and to help students to achieve the best possible project.

Therefore, for Option 1, here are the rubric points, and their rough equivalencies (I will actually assign numbers, but this is to give students the general equivalencies:

A+: 20 – 19 points

A: 18 – 16 points

B+: 15 – 14 points

B: 13 – 11 points

C+ 10 – 9 points

C: 8 – 5 points

D: 5 – 3 points

F+: Less than three points – handing in anything

Since there are more points (4 more) available for Options 2 through 4, these will be the rough equivalencies:

A+: 24 – 23 points

A: 22 – 19 points

B+: 18 – 16 points

B: 15 – 13 points

C+ 12 – 10 points

C: 9 – 5 points

D: 5 – 3 points

F+: Less than three points – handing in anything

No participation at all will result in potentially THREE zero test grades!

Remember, the point here is to not have me teach Chapter 22; the other point is that since missions are launching and finishing their science every year, no book can keep up. This project is the way that all of us can have the most current information, and do something very different, and hopefully FUN! J

Helpful Websites for Your Searching Pleasure J

The following Websites will help you find each mission, but also give you some good launching pads (forgive the pun) for further study.

http://www.nasa.gov/missions/timeline/current/current_missions.html (Current NASA Missions Site)

http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=1 (Current ESA Missions Site)

http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions (Japanese Institute of Space and Astronautical Science)

http://www.space.com (Commercial Site)

A Mission List to Help You…..’Cause I’m Nice J

These are some missions for you to use, and is by no means comprehensive, but it’s pretty close. All of these missions are eligible for Option 1 and 2. I reserve the right to steer you in the direction of major missions first. If you are interested in Option 3, see me for suggestions.

ACE – Advanced Composition Explorer Double Star

GRACE – Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Mars Express

HETE-2 – High Energy Transient Explorer 2 Rosetta

CALIPSO <Future> SMART-1

Cassini-Huygens SOHO

CLOUDSAT <Future> Ulysses

CHIPS - Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer Venus Express

Cluster <Joint NASA / ESA> Deep Impact

Earth Observing – 1 Geotail

FAST – Fast Auroral Snapshot Explorer GPB – Gravity Probe B

FUSE – Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer Aqua

GALEX – Galaxy Evolution Explorer Genesis

Hayabusa / MUSES-C <Joint JAXA / NASA Mission> Aura

ICEsat – Ice Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite JASON - 1

IMAGE – Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration Topex / Posiedon

INTEGRAL – International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory Mars Global Surveyor

Mars Exploration Rovers (Spirit & Opportunity) Mars Odyssey

Messenger – Mercury, Surface, Space Experiment, Geochemistry and Ranging

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter New Horizons (Pluto Express)

Polar – Mission to Geospace Stardust

SWAS – Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite Terra

WMAP – Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe Swift

STEREO – Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory <Future> Wind Mission

UARS – Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite XMM – Newton

TRACE – Transition Region and Coronal Explorer Spitzer Space Telescope

TRMM – Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Chandra X-Ray Observatory

TIMED – Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics

RHESSI – Rueven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager

RXTE – Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer

SPACE EXPLORATION MISSIONS ASSESSMENT ASSIGNMENT

OPTION #1 – CHILDREN’S BOOK

Criteria

Information regarding scientific purpose & duration of mission

- Includes many clear details of scientific purpose.

- Includes many clear details of both mission duration and phases.

- All relevant sources of information and pictures are cited.

- Scientific purpose is clear, but may be missing an ingredient.

- Clear explanation of either mission duration or phases.

- Information used shows that multiple sources are used without citation of all of them.

- Scientific purpose is unclear, but there are some references to it.

- Some details of mission are present, but are unclear.

- Information used shows that multiple sources are used without citation of them; but only one citation is made.

- Few details of scientific purpose are presented.

- Few details of mission duration and phases are present.

- Citations of any sources are unclear.

Information regarding methods of gathering mission data

- All methods of gathering mission data are clearly explained.

- Clear connections are made between data gathering methods and the scientific purpose of the mission.

- Some methods of gathering mission data are explained, or some confusion exists.

- Some connections are made between data gathering methods and the scientific purpose of the mission.

- Few methods of gathering mission data are explained.

- Few connections are made between data gathering methods and the scientific purpose of the mission.

- Methods of gathering mission data are unclearly explained.

- Unclear connections are made between data gathering methods and the scientific purpose of the mission.

Information regarding any mission problems / planning

- All major problems are highlighted and explained.

- If no major problems were present, explanation of problem planning are clearly explained.

- Some problems are mentioned, or there is some confusion about the problems mentioned.

- Problem planning is not clearly explained.

- Few problems are mentioned.

- Few examples of problem planning are highlighted.

- Problems are unclearly mentioned.

- Explanation of problem planning is unclear.

Integration of text and pictures

- Text and pictures used are clearly related, and have an interconnection and flow.

- Creative use and layout of text and pictures without causing confusion.

- Text and pictures have some connection and flow problems.

- Creativity is evident, but results in some hackneyed placements of pictures.

- Text and pictures only exhibit vague correlation.

- Creativity in placement results in confusion.

- Text and pictures exhibit poor correlation.

- Text is clearly cut and pasted.

Sharing of book – Oral Presentation

- Good use of notes; notes do not get in the way of presentation.

- Good use of voice and eye contact to maintain audience interest.

- Complete command of questions asked by classmates.

- Notes occasionally interfere with the flow of the presentation.

- Some eye contact is maintained.

- A momentary fumble of a question is evident.

- Presentation has little flow; notes are used almost exclusively.

- Only has occasional eye contact with audience.

- Limited command of questions posed by audience or teacher.

- Strict reading of presentations.

- Fumbles or cannot respond to questions asked by teacher or classmates.

- Eyes seldom make contact with audience.

NAME: DATE:

SPACE EXPLORATION MISSIONS ASSESSMENT ASSIGNMENT

OPTION #2 – ORAL PRESENTATION

Criteria

Information regarding scientific purpose & duration of mission

See Option #1.

Information regarding methods of gathering mission data

See Option #1.

Information regarding any mission problems / planning

See Option #1.

Quality of Visual Aid (Powerpoint or Poster)

- Text and pictures used are clearly related, and text is brief.

- Pictures are integral to overall effect of presentation.

- Text and pictures have some relationship ambiguity.

- Pictures generally support presentation, but at least one is poorly related.

- Text and pictures only exhibit vague correlation.

- Pictures have little supporting effect for overall presentation.

- Text and pictures exhibit poor correlation.

- Text is clearly cut and pasted.

Oral Presentation

- Good use of notes; notes do not get in the way of presentation.

- Good use of voice and eye contact to maintain audience interest.

- Complete command of questions asked by classmates.

- Notes occasionally interfere with the flow of the presentation.

- Some eye contact is maintained.

- A momentary fumble of a question is evident.

- Presentation has little flow; notes are used almost exclusively.

- Only has occasional eye contact with audience.

- Limited command of questions posed by audience or teacher.

- Strict reading of presentations.

- Fumbles or cannot respond to questions asked by teacher or classmates.

- Eyes seldom make contact with audience.

Quality of Note Organizer

- Presentation highlights all points presented in note organizer.

- Note organizer hits all major points needed to fully explain mission.

- Presentation only highlights some points presented in note organizer.

- Note organizer misses at least one point needed to fully explain mission.

- Presentation highlights few of the points presented in the note organizer.

- Note organizer misses most points needed to fully explain mission.

- Note organizer is only vaguely supported by presentation.

- Note organizer only hits one major points that are needed to fully explain mission.

NAME: DATE:

SPACE EXPLORATION MISSIONS ASSESSMENT ASSIGNMENT

OPTION #3 – HISTORICAL COMPARISON

Criteria	4	3	2	1
Information regarding each program and scientific reasoning behind it	- Includes many clear details of the scientific purpose of each mission program. - Includes many clear details of each complete mission program. - All relevant sources of information and pictures are cited.	- One mission program is thoroughly done, but the other is missing some significant information. - Some details of the scientific purpose of either mission are unclear. - Information used shows that multiple sources are used without citation of all of them.	- Both mission programs are missing significant information. - Some details of the scientific purpose of both missions are unclear. - Information used shows that multiple sources are used without citation of them; but only one citation is made.	- Few details of the scientific purpose of either program are presented. - Few details of mission duration and phases are present. - Citations of any sources are unclear.
Information regarding each program’s place in history	- A global view of the two selected missions with respect to all world manned mission programs are laid out. - Historical connections are made clear between the two programs.	- Some world mission programs are not mentioned with respect to the two missions that have bearing upon them. - Some connections are made between the two programs.	- Few other world missions are used to make comparisons to the two mission programs selected. - Few connections are made between the two programs.	- The two selected missions relevance to world manned space flight is shown on a very limited basis. - Historical connections between the two programs are unclear.
Information comparing / contrasting each program	- All major program components are compared. - Major differences between the programs are shown and analyzed thoroughly.	- Most major program components are compared. - Either all major differences between the programs are not shown, or there is an incomplete analysis of these differences.	- Few major program components are compared. - Few examples of problem planning are highlighted.	- Major program components are unclearly mentioned. - Differences between the programs are vaguely shown and are examined superficially.
Quality of Visual Aid (Powerpoint or Poster)	See Option #2.	See Option #2.	See Option #2.	See Option #2.
Oral Presentation	See Option #2.	See Option #2.	See Option #2.	See Option #2.
Quality of Note Organizer	See Option #2.	See Option #2.	See Option #2.	See Option #2.

NAME: DATE:

SPACE EXPLORATION MISSIONS ASSESSMENT ASSIGNMENT

OPTION #4 – MISSION DIARY

Criteria	4	3	2	1
Information regarding scientific purpose & duration of mission	See Option #1.	See Option #1.	See Option #1.	See Option #1.
Information regarding methods of gathering mission data	See Option #1.	See Option #1.	See Option #1.	See Option #1.
Information regarding any mission problems / planning	See Option #1.	See Option #1.	See Option #1.	See Option #1.
Creativity in presentation	- Use of voice inflection, and alternate personas expressed. - Use of costume and simple changes in headgear. - Presentation is a true performance of the material or appropriate sections thereof.	- Voice inflection is present, or alternate personas are expressed, but not both. - One change of costume or headgear is made. - Presentation has many performance elements.	- Voice inflection or use of personas is extremely limited. - Costume or headgear is present, but not changed if appropriate. - Presentation does tell a story.	- Strict reading of material. - Voice inflection nearly monotone. - Costume unrelated to mission portrayed. - Presentation is in presentation style, not as a story.
Integration of text and pictures	See Option #1.	See Option #1.	See Option #1.	See Option #1.
Sharing of diary – Oral Presentation	See Option #1	See Option #1.	See Option #1.	See Option #1.

NAME: DATE: