Introduction

You are from the fictitious planet of Varlex, one of six planets orbiting the blue star named Quarb.  You are in charge of monitoring the universe for new solar systems.  A new vacation resort company has just hired you to scout out possible locations for a future resort area.  You have been asked to check out the newly formed Milky Way Galaxy to see if it would be possible to build a resort hotel on one or all of the nine new planets.

Task

Students will record planet descriptions on the Mission Summary worksheet then write a letter of recommendation to the resort company.

Process and Resources

Each student will work independently investigating, reading, and recording all data.  The physical appearance of each planet can be found on the classroom's lasar disk, "Windows on Science", or in your science textbook.  All other data can be found on the web site listed below.  Once this site is found you will scroll to find some of the information.  Any data not found can be located by clicking on each of the planets' names.  Click here to print the Mission Summary worksheet.

    Enchanted Learning
 

Evaluation

1.  List all physical data on the worksheet.
2.  Write a letter of recommendation to the resort company.

Conclusion

After completing the research on the planets, the students will report their findings using the worksheet.

Extension

Draw, label, and color a model of the nine planets in their elliptical orbits around the sun.