"Create Your Own Planet" Assignment

Here is an assignment guide that I created for my lesson: "Create Your Own Planet".

For this project, students write an essay about a planet of their own creation - complete with life forms, physical characteristics, and details about the planet's discovery. Next, students create a poster or artistic representation of their planet that includes: the name of the planet, basic facts about the planet, and a description or picture of the life forms on the planet. I spaced this lesson out over two or three class periods: 1st was an Introduction Day, 2nd Poster/Writing Work Day, 3rd Presentation Day. Between the 2nd and 3rd class period was a weekend period - this allowed students plenty of time for completing their project.

Below is the lesson plan:
“Create Your Own Planet”
Instructions and Guide
Description:
This assignment consists of two main parts: first, an essay report on your planet; second, a poster displaying an image and basic information about your planet. Both the essay and the poster are worth 20 points. This assignment is due Tuesday, August 30, 2011.
Essay Instructions:
Your essay must meet the following requirements:
1. It must be one or two paragraphs long. Each paragraph must have at least three or four sentences.
2. Your essay must answer each of these questions:
a. What is the name of your planet? (Consider: describe how you developed the name or what the name means.)
b. Where is your planet located? (Consider: how far away from Earth is this planet? Is it in our solar system? Is it in a different solar system?
c. How was your planet discovered? (Consider: what is the name of the discoverer and how did he or she discover the planet – satellites, telescopes, or a manned spacecraft?)
d. What are your planet’s physical characteristics? (Consider: are the landforms similar to Earth? Are they different? Is there air to breath or another substance? Is there water?)
e. Does your planet support life?
i. If yes, describe the life forms. (Consider: are they similar to humans or completely different?)
ii. If no, describe why your planet does not support life.
Poster Instructions:
Your poster must meet the following requirements:
1. It must have a picture or a drawing of your planet. (This may be a hand drawn picture or something you create on your computer.)
2. Your poster must have each of the following:
a. The name of your planet.
b. The location of your planet.
c. The basic physical characteristics of your planet.
d. The name and a brief description (or picture) of the life forms that live on your planet.
Both your essay and your poster must also have the following:
1. Your full name
2. Your class
3. The due date of this assignment