Getting Started:

First, get to know all about the planet you have chosen by
researching it. Read as much information about the planet as
possible. Try both the Internet and the library; try the NASA web
site, Zoom Astronomy, Nine Planets, (other acceptable websites
listed below) search on Google Chrome, an encyclopedia, and
individual books on astronomy and the Solar System.
As you're reading about your planet, take notes on key
information, such as your planet's size, temperature range, its
position in the Solar System, the number of moons, atmosphere,
any unusual features, when it was discovered, etc. Make a
graphic organizer to hold all your information.
The Structure of the Planet Report:
Start your report with an introductory paragraph that states the
main ideas that you will be writing about. Then write at least four
to five paragraphs that clearly describe your planet. Each
paragraph should cover one topic (for example, you should have
one paragraph that covers the planet's location in the Solar
System, how far it is from the Sun, and how long its year is). End
the report with a closing paragraph that summarizes what you
wrote and learned.
Finally, cite your references (see the section below on formats for
your bibliography).
Check that your grammar, spelling, and punctuation are correct.
Make sure to use complete sentences and write neatly! Define
any technical terms that you use. Proofread your report for errors
before you hand it in. You will need to submit your 1) graphic
organizer, 2) first hand written draft,3) final handwritten draft and
a 4) final type written draft through Google Classroom.
Topics to Research and Include in Your Report:
When you write your report, try to answer as many of the
following questions as you can:

 The Planet's Name: What does its name mean? Many

planets were named after mythological gods.
Position in the Solar System: Where is your planet
located (for example, Mars in the fourth planet from the
Sun)? How far from the Sun does it orbit. Is its orbit unusual?
Rotation on its Axis: How long does it take for your planet
to rotate on its own axis? (This is one day on your planet.)
Size: How big is your planet? How does it rate in terms of
the other planets in terms of size (is it the biggest, the
smallest)? What is your planet's mass?
Gravity: What is the force of gravity at the surface of your
planet? For example, what would a 100-pound person weigh
on that planet?
Orbit: How long does it take for your planet to orbit the Sun?
(This is one year on your planet.)
Atmosphere: What is the composition of the atmosphere of
your planet? Is it a thick or a thin atmosphere?
Temperature: What is the temperature range your planet?
How does this compare to the temperature on Earth?
Composition of Your Planet and its Appearance: What
type of planet is it (is it rocky or a gas giant)? What is its
internal composition? What does your planet look like?
Moons: If there are moons orbiting your planet, describe
them and when they were discovered.
Rings: If there are rings orbiting your planet, describe them
and when they were discovered.

 How a Human Being Fare on Your Planet: On your

planet, would a person choke in the atmosphere, be
squashed by the extreme gravity, float with ease, freeze,
burn up, or something else?
Something Special: Is there anything special about your
planet? This can often be the best part of the report, taking
you off on interesting topics. For example, are there 100year-long storms on your planet? Are there giant volcanos?
Does your planet have a very tilted axis (giving it extreme
seasons)? Have spacecraft visited your planet? If so, what
have they discovered? Is your planet in an orbital resonance
with another body?
Discovery of Your Planet: The planets that are not visible
using the naked eye were discovered after the invention of
the telescope (these are Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto). Tell
when your planet was discovered and by whom.
Citing Your References: When you write your bibliography, you
list all of your references. Formats for each type of publication
follows (there are different formats for different media):
Web Site: Author(s) if appropriate. Title of Site or web page.
URL of site, date of publication (the earliest copyright year
listed).
Book: Author(s). Title of book. Edition. Location of publisher:
Name of Publisher, year of publication.
Encyclopedia: Title of encyclopedia, volume of
encyclopedia used. Location of publisher: Name of Publisher,
year of publication, pages where the article is located.

 Magazine or Journal: Author(s). "Title of article." Name of

magazine, Volume. Issue (date): pages where the article is
located.
Author(s) are listed last name first, first name or initials (as cited
in the publication).
For example: ZoomAstronomy.com would be cited as follows:
Col, Jeananda. ZoomAstronomy.com.
http://www.ZoomAstronomy.com 1999.
Some teachers also request that you include the date of access;
this is the date (or dates) that you went to the web page (or
pages).
The Following is a Rubric for assessing each Part of Your Research Report :
Beginning
Area of Assessment
1

Developi Accomplish
ng
ed
2
3

Excellent
4

Sco
re

Introduction

Disorganized
, no
information
on what is to
come

Gives too
little
Summarizes
information report
.

Concise, wellwritten
introduction

Research Part 1 (the

planet's name,
position in the Solar
System, its size,
mass, gravity at the
surface, orbit, length
of year and day)

Does not
cover all
appropriate
topics

Covers
some of the
appropriate
topics.

Covers most
of the
appropriate
topics.

All appropriate
topics covered
well. Also
.
includes
interesting facts.

Does not
cover all
appropriate
topics

Covers
some of the
appropriate
topics.

Covers most
of the
appropriate
topics.

Research Part 2 (the

planet's atmosphere,
temperature range,
internal composition,
moons, rings, how a
person would fare on
the planet, discovery,

All appropriate
.
topics covered
well. Also
includes
interesting facts.

unusual features,
etc.)

Spelling/Grammar

Many
spelling and
Only one or
A few errors
grammatical
two errors
errors

Well organized
presentation,
Legible
typed or written
writing,
using a word
.
accompanying
processor,
illustrations
accompanying
illustrations

Illegible,
messy

Almost
illegible

References

No
references

Several
A single
references
reference,
with
incomplete
incomplete
citation
citations

Timeliness

Over a week
A day or two
A week late
late
late

Presentation

Spelling and
.
grammar perfect

Many
references,
listed in
appropriate
format

Handed in on
time

Websites to use:
http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/spac
e/solar-system/

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astron
omy/

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_system.htm

http://kids.nineplanets.org/

http://www.nasa.gov/

http://www.learningsymphony.com/Includes/PDFs/L
S-Curriculum_Galactic-Traveler.pdf

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astron
omy/planets/

http://nineplanets.org/

Name of Planet: _________________

1. Size: _________________________________
2. Color: ________________________________
3. Distance from the sun:
_________________________________________
4. What does its name mean? (Many planets got their name from
a mythological god.)
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
5. Position in the Solar System: ________ planet from the sun

6. Orbit. How long does it take your planet to travel around the
sun? _____________________________
7. Length of a day: It takes Earth 24 hours to rotate once (one
day). How long is a day, or one rotation, on your planet?
___________________
8. Temperature: How hot or cold is your planet? _________________
9. How many moons does it have? ____________ moons How many
rings does it have? ____________ rings
10. What is your planet made of (rocks, gases, etc.):
____________________________________________________________
11. Who discovered the planet? ______________________________
When? __________________________________________________
12. List three interesting facts you found about your planet that
you have not written down yet:
a._______________________________________________________
b._______________________________________________________
c._______________________________________________________