space webquest

You go to your mailbox one sunny summer afternoon not knowing that you are about to be given the opportunity of a lifetime. A major cartoon studio has invited you to participate in their summer camp for the next three weeks. You will tour the studios, meet cartoonists,and receive special training in creating cartoons. But wait - there's more! You and a small group of other students will be working together to write a script for an episode of the highest-rated cartoon on television - "Galactic Adventures" !!

Task

Before you begin writing your script for "Galactic Adventures" you decide you better do some research. If your hero is going to be speeding through outer space and saving the galaxy from ultimate doom, you better know where you're going and what you might encounter out there. Your team decided to research space and find out everything you can about the sun, stars, and each of the nine planets. Once you've finished your research, you will be ready to create your very own episode of "Galactic Adventures".

Ready? 5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . Blast Off!!

Process

1. Your teacher will put you into teams of four. Each person will be assigned a responsibility for the research. Click on your title to jump to a research guide page and the links for your specific area.

**Solar Scholar: You will research our brightest star and center of our galaxy, the Sun.

**Constellation Commander: Research the stars in our galaxy and how mankind has used them throughout the ages.

**Inner Planet Investigator: Research the 4 Inner Planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars).

**Outer Planet Observer: Research the 5 Outer Planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, PLuto).

2. Log all of your findings in your Space Database. Click here for a copy to print out and write on.

3. When all team members have completed their research, get back together to share your findings. Together make an accurate poster of the galaxy with mini-facts about each area. This poster will hang on the wall to be your guide when writing your cartoon.

4. Check out this website from Cartoon Network to learn more about the process of making cartoons.

5. Use the storyboard to plan your episode's story. Remember to include characters, and introduction, a plot, a problem, a solution, and a conclusion. You may wish to conclude your story in this episode, or you may want to leave a "cliffhanger" so the viewers will want to watch more next week. Use your poster and research to plan the setting and problem. Be creative!

6. Use Microsoft Paint to draw cells of each event in your story.

7. Present your cartoon to the studio board (your classmates).

Category	1 Point	2 Points	3 Points	4 Points
Research	Notes are difficult to read. Only 1 or 2 topics from guide are included. Facts are incomplete or inaccurate.	Not all topics from guide are covered. Unorganized. Many spelling and grammatical errors.	All topics from guide are covered. Notes are neat and organized. Used database form.	All topics from guide are included and extra information is given. Facts are written in complete sentences with no spelling or grammar errors. Database is organized and very neat.
Poster	Does not show all planets, sun and stars. Planets are not in order from the sun. Less than 2 facts are given for each object.	Shows all planets, sun, and stars, but not in correct order. Planets are not colored correctly. Only 2 facts are given for each object.	Shows planets, sun and stars. Each planet is colored accurately. At least 3 mini-facts are given for each object.	Planets are drawn in order from sun and to scale. Each is colored accurately. More than 3 facts are given for each object. Poster is neat, colorful and easy to read.
Storyboard	Less than 3 squares of the storyboard are used. Story is incomplete or does not make sense.	Less than 6 squares of the storyboard are used. Not all aspects of story are included (plot, characters, problem, etc.). Uses only 3 or 4 facts from research in story.	At least 6 squares of storyboard are used. All aspects of a good story are included. A seperate script is written. At least 5 facts from poster are used in cartoon.	More than 6 squares of storyboard are used. All aspects of a good story are included. More than 5 facts from poster are used. A seperate script is typed. Story is original and creative.
Teamwork	More than 1 student was off-task for most of the work. Little to no cooperation within the team. Work is incomplete or show a lack of research and effort.	One or two members of the team took over the group. One or more team members did little or no work. Emotions were not kept in control, many arguments occured. As a whole, the team stayed on-task 70 to 80% of the time.	All students worked equal amounts on the project. Team members were polite to each other. Emotions were kept in control. As a whole, the team stayed on task almost all (90%) of the time.	Each student worked extremely hard to get this project done well. Team members were polite, used good manners, gave compliments, and kept emotions in control. As a whole, the team was on-task over 90% of the time.