EXPANSION BASEBALL – IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM

EXPANSION BASEBALL –
IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM!

Introduction

It is the year 2099. Baseball is still America’s favorite pastime, but there is a problem. There is no room left on earth for an expansion baseball team. The future of baseball is in your hands. Your task is to choose the 2 planets that will be home to the two new major league baseball teams.

The Task

You have 4 major tasks ahead of you to complete this mission.

You must create a spread sheet containing data about each planet
You must demonstrate your knowledge of the planets of our solar system by identifying each planet by its picture and placing the picture of the planet in its correct orbital position.
You must write a persuasive article explaining the reasons you have chosen the 2 planets that are to be home to two new major league baseball teams.
You must create a hyperstudio presentation as further persuasion for the 2 planets to be home to the newest baseball teams.

Resources

You may use any book, magazine, or encyclopedia in the library. You may also use information from the classroom CD-ROM Encarta Encyclopedia. Our Windows on Science – The Solar System also has good information for your use. In addition there is much information on the Internet for your use. These are the sights you have permission to use:

Windows to the Universe – http://www.windows.umich.edu

StarChild – http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html

The Solar System – http://www.germantown.k12.il.us/html/solsys.htm

Kids Space – http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/kids/

Astronomy for Kids – http://www.dustbunny.com/afk/

Astronomy for Kids – http://tqjunior.advanced.org/3645

The Nine Planets – Just For Kids – http://www.tcsn.net/afiner/

Mission Schedule

Day 1 - Mission Orientation

Day 2 – Meeting at Mission Control

Day 3 – Task 1 (Lab)

Day 4 – Task 1 (Lab)

Day 5 – Task 1 (Lab – Completion of Task 1)

Day 6 – Task 2 (Classroom)

Day 7 – Task 3 (Classroom)

Day 8 – Task 3 (Classroom – Completion of Task 2)

Day 9 – Task 4 (Lab)

Day 10 – Task 4 (Lab)

Day 11 – Task 4 (Lab)

Day 12 – Task 4 (Presentation of Task 4 in the computer lab)

Research Specialists

Task 1 and Task 2

*Historian (Neil Armstrong) – Collect and share with group members information about the naming of each planet and the history of exploration of the planet.

*Photographer (Sally Ride) – Collect and save to a file pictures of each planet. Share pictures with group so group can accomplish Task 2.

*Information Specialist (John Glenn)–Collect and share data about each planet to complete Task 1.

Task 3 and Task 4

*Historian (Babe Ruth) – Responsible for data and text used in Tasks 3 and 4.

*Photographer (Roger Maris) – Responsible for pictures used in Tasks 3 and 4.

*Visual and Sound Effects (Mark McGwire) – Responsible for the visual and sound format of Tasks 3 and 4.

Evaluation

Home Run

*Completion of Tasks 1, 2, 3 and 4 with an Excellent rating

*Rating of Excellent on Job Performance Record

*Completion of 1 extra project in relation to this mission

Double

*Completion of Tasks 1, 2, 3 and 4 with a Good or Excellent rating

*Rating of Good or Excellent on Job Performance Record

Single

*Completion of Tasks 1, 2, 3 and 4 with a Fair rating

*Rating of Fair on Job Performance Record

Strike Out

*Completion of Tasks 1,2,3, and 4 with an unsatisfactory rating

*Rating of Unsatisfactory on Job Performance Record

*Failure to complete a Task

A rubric will be designed with the help of students for the evaluation of Tasks 1,2,3 and 4 as well as the Job Performance Record.

Additional Projects

*Design a baseball pennant for your team

*Build a model of your planet(s)

*Create a poster advertising the planets that will be home to the next 2 baseball teams

*Write and present a play about baseball on your planet

*Design a mascot for your new team

*Design or construct a baseball stadium for your new team

*Create a video commercial for your new team

*Design a brochure of the Solar System

*Write a report about your favorite astronaut

*Write a space story to add to Space Adventures by Kids - http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/kids/

*Design a model of the Solar System

Illinois Standards Connected to this Project

Language Arts

1.B.2a, 1.B.2c, 1.B.2d, 1.C.2a, 1.C.2b, 1.C.2c, 1.C.2d, 1.C.2f, 3.A.2, 3.B.2a, 3.B.2b, 3.B.2c, 3.B.2d, 3.C.2b, 4.A.2b, 4.A.2c, 4.B.2b, 5.A.2a, 5.A.2b, 5.B.2a, 5.C.2a

Math

9.A.2a, 9.A.2c, 10.A.2a, 10.A.2c, 10.B.2a, 10.B.2b, 10.B.2d

Science

11.A.2c, 11.A.2d, 11.A.2e, 12.F.2a

Social Science

17.A.2a, 17.A.2b

Fine Arts

26B.2b, 26B.2d

Conclusion

The purpose of this project is to engage the students in research about the planets. By the end of this unit the students will have:

*Created a spread sheet containing data about each planet

*Identified each of the planets by its picture and locating its position in the sun’s orbit

*Written a persuasive article convincing the class why expansion teams should be put on the 2 planets they chose

*Created a hyperstudio further persuading the class about the 2 planets they have chosen for expansion baseball.

This project has been designed for fifth grade students. It is estimated that this project should last approximately 3 weeks. This project will incorporate the following subject areas: science, reading, social studies, language arts, math and fine arts.