Date assigned: Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Decide on topic by: Thursday, February 15, 2024
Rough draft due: Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Final draft and poster due: Thursday, February 29, 2024
This is your chance to find out more about the astronomy topic you’re most interested in and then teach the rest of the class about it! At the bottom of the page, you will find a list of ideas to do your report on that we talked about in class. These are only ideas. You can choose any topic you want that has to do with space and astronomy, but be sure it is not a topic that is too broad. Your report will consist of two things…a written report and a poster with pictures, diagrams, charts, and captions to show the class and help you teach them about what you have learned.
To find out more about the topic you pick, you will need to do some research. I have about 30 different astronomy books in the classroom that you can check out. You can also use other sources like encyclopedias, and the Internet, or be old-school and go to the public library to check out some books.
You will share your project with the class starting on March 1. You need to decide on your topic by Thursday, February 15.
The written report should be 2-3 pages long (single-spaced if handwritten, double-spaced if typed). It should have an introductory paragraph with a “hook” that gets the reader excited to read the report. Then it should have at least 5 informational body paragraphs on interesting facts about their topic and references to pictures, tables, Venn diagrams, charts, etc. that are on the poster. It should have a good concluding paragraph at the end. Make sure that it is your own writing, not just copied from something.
The end goal of this research report is to be able to teach the rest of the class some interesting things about your topic that we might not already know. You will also learn a lot yourself in the process!
Research
Gather facts and information from at least two different sources. Sources can be books, encyclopedias, magazines, the Internet, or any other source that has reliable information. Look for at least 5 interesting facts and take notes on them. You will write one paragraph for each fact, so you will need several supporting details for each one. Take notes and be sure to write down where you got the information so that you can find it again and also so that you can include it in your “Where I Got My Information” page at the end of your report. Write down important facts, details, numbers, and quotes. While you are doing your research, be thinking of good pictures and information that would make good tables, Venn diagrams, charts, etc. to include on your poster.
Rough Draft
When you are done taking notes, start turning them into sentences and paragraphs in your rough draft. Remember to skip lines when you write your rough draft to make it easier to edit. Write your introductory paragraph with your “hook” to get your reader interested in reading your report. Start each fact paragraph by stating the fact and then writing supporting details about that fact. Be sure to use good adjectives and make your sentences interesting. If any of your fact paragraphs are related to pictures, charts, or diagrams on your poster, be sure to mention them in your paragraph. After you have written your fact paragraphs, write a concluding paragraph summarizing the things you have written about. Your rough draft is due on Tuesday, February 27.
Editing
When your rough draft is finished, it’s time to edit. Re-read it and make sure it makes sense. Ask someone else to read it to help you find any mistakes in punctuation, capitalization, and grammar. Ask them to read it to you and see if you both think it makes sense. Make sure that you have one paragraph for each fact and that you have indented to clearly show where each paragraph ends and the next one starts. Mark up that rough draft!
Final Draft
After you are done editing, copy it over to your final draft in your best handwriting. Do not skip lines on your final draft. Make sure the first letter of every line except the indented ones touches the red margin line. Do not write on the back of the paper for your final draft. Make it look as nice as you can! You may type your final draft if you would rather do that. Your final draft is due on Thursday, February 29.
Poster
Try to put a little time into your poster each day. Write the title at the top. It does not need to be anything more than pictures, diagrams, tables, or charts to help us learn what you have learned. Be sure to make it look nice and neat. Your poster is due with your final draft on Thursday, February 29.
Here are some of the ideas we discussed in class. Your report does not need to be on one of these topics! Think about the astronomy topic that you are most interested in…that is a great topic for your project!
Sun
Moon
Mercury
Venus
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Volcanoes on Mars
Saturn’s Rings
Io, one of Jupiter’s moons
Black Holes
Types of Stars
Supernovas
Apollo 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17
Asteroid Belt
Jupiter’s Giant Red Spot
Comets
Neil Armstrong
International Space Station
Space Shuttle
Constellations
Nebulas
Types of Galaxies
Star Clusters
Mars rovers
Saturn V Rocket
Asteroids
Meteors and meteorites
Solar Eclipses
Lunar Eclipses
Phases of the Moon
Voyager 1 and 2
Betelgeuse
Any other astronomy topic you can think of!