Kids in Space Project
CONTENT AREA: Science/Astronomy Unit
DISTRICT OUTCOMES
Applies effective strategies to comprehend print
Communicates findings clearly and accurately
Utilizes resources to collect relevant data
Analyzes, synthesizes, and evaluates data
Seeks accuracy and clarity
Reflects on work
Access and use Information Effectively
Access the Internet
Organize information
Displays Interpersonal Skills and Self Understanding
Listens to others
Works toward a common goal
Exhibits self-control
Displays flexibility
STATE GOALS IN SCIENCE: 5-8 Standards A, E, and F
- All students should develop the abilties of scientific inquiry
- All students should develop an understanding about science and technology
- All students should develop an understanding of science and technology in society
SETTING/ ENVIRONMENT
Kids in Space is set within the content of the fifth grade science unit entitled: Earth-Bound But Sky Wise.
TIME FRAME
This project will be ongoing throughout the school year in conjunction with the NASA space shuttle flights.
Each day during the mission, students will spend 15-20 minutes on the Internet collecting data and then have time as needed to process and organize the information.
Each mission lasts from 7-14 days. The students will only be able to gather information on the days that they are in school.
There are nine missions scheduled between February 1996 (when the project began) and March 1997.
LEARNER DESCRIPTION
The present class consists of twenty-five fifth grade students, four of whom receive learning disability services .
Twenty-three of these students have computers in their homes. Of these, ten have access to the Internet.
LEARNER OUTCOMES
- Students will be able to access and use the Internet.
- Students will be able to gather relevant information from the Internet.
- Students will be able to organize information in a meaningful way.
- Students will communicate information clearly in an oral report using a visual aid.
- Students will exhibit responsiblity within their group structure.
- Students will be able to self-reflect on their work within the group and the final product.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS
The students will be assessed using a rubric.
EVALUATION
What worked?
Students were responsible for their own learning.
Students defined roles within their group and made changes when necessary.
Students took responsibility for their roles.
The task was authentic.
The task was involved and generative.
Students watched the mission on television at home.
Students brought in articles and pictures from home.
Students talked about what they had seen and learned.
Students generated products based on guidelines for a final class presentation.
Students reflected on their work and their group participation.
Students "talked" with an astronaut on the Internet.
What didn't work.
We were not always able to access the Internet when needed.
Teacher assigned topics made the study more limited.
The groups were too big.
Because we did not get a hook-up in our room until after the Mission began, the students wanted to go off in all directions and not just find information about the flight.
The tracking group was not able to track the flight on a daily basis.
What would I change?
Next year I will introduce the class to the Internet immediately so that they may familiarize themselves with it before we begin an assigned project.
The students will choose what they would like to study about the missions after we have studied the first mission as a large group.
The students will develop study groups based on their interests.
The class will set common group goals for presentations.
Students will communicate with other schools around the world about the missions.
Sharon Reed thomelem@dupagels.lib.il.us