Please post your link here for your astronomy blog for 2014.

Astronomy Blog Rubric 2013

BLOG/POWERPOINT RUBRIC

Student Name:     ________________________________________

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Content - Accuracy	All content throughout the presentation is accurate. There are no factual errors.	Most of the content is accurate but there is one piece of information that might be inaccurate.	The content is generally accurate, but two pieces of information is clearly flawed or inaccurate.	Content is typically confusing or contains more than three factual error.
Physical Characteristics	All thirteen physical characteristics are included in the blog or powerpoint.	11-12 physical characteristics are included in the blog/powerpoint.	9-10 physical characteristics are included in the blog/powerpoint.	8 or less physical characteristics are included in the blog/powerpoint.
Space Exploration	Paragraph is completely written and includes all four required details about the space mission.	Paragraph is written and includes three of the required details about the space mission.	Paragraph is written and includes two of the required details about the space mission.	Paragraph is written and includes one of the required details about the space mission.
Interesting Facts	All 15 facts are given about the planet are different from the physical characteristics that were given earlier.	13-14 facts are given about the planet are different from the physical characteristics that were given earlier.	11-12 facts are given about the planet are different from the physical characteristics that were given earlier.	10 or less facts are given about the planet are different from the physical characteristics that were given earlier.
Visuals	At least three visuals are included about the planet or its moons.	At least two visuals are included about the planet or its moons.	At least one visuals are included about the planet or its moons.	No visuals are included about the planet or its moons.

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Hello 8th graders, if you are interested in creating a blog for your advertisements read the older posts on this blog.  Also take a look at students' blogs from last year on to get some ideas and inspirations. 

If you do create a blog, make sure to post the link to it below in the comments so I can grade it!

Good luck!

Astronomy Research Guidelines 2013

The following is ALL of the information that you must include in your astronomy blog and/or powerpoint.  Look at how the information must be written.  Remember that there are links below for research and there are also books in Ms. Cotta's classroom.

Physical Characteristics/General information:

These facts must be included in your blog and may be written in bullet format.

In COMPLETE sentences & punctuation.

1) Diameter (in km)

2) Length of day (in Earth days or Earth hours)

3) Length of year (in Earth days or Earth years)

4) Average distance from the Sun (in km and astronomical units)

5) How many moons does it have?

6) What is the surface of the planet?

7) Describe its atmosphere, does it have one, what is it made of?

8) What was the planet named for?

9) When was it discovered?

10) How much would 100 lbs (on Earth) weigh on this planet?

11) What is the average temperature (low & high in Celsius)?

12) What is the mass of the planet (in kg)?

13) Does it have rings? How many? How far out into space do they go (in km)?

Space Exploration:

This section of your blog must be written in paragraph form. Complete sentences.

Detail one mission by the United States to the planet and include this information:

            1) The year it took place

            2) What was the mission called?

            3) What were the goals of the mission?

            4) What new information did this mission give us about the planet?

Interesting/Unique Facts:

1) You must include fifteen (15) unique and interesting facts about this planet that have not been covered by the two sections previously.  Do not tell me facts that you already listed.  It may be written in bullet format.

Astronomy Links/Blogger link 2013

Here are some links to help you with your research:

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_system.htm
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/kids/index.cfm
http://solarsystem.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/index.cfm
http://nineplanets.org/
http://kids.nineplanets.org/

Create a blog account:
www.blogger.com/start

PLUS do not forget that there are astronomy books that you can use in Ms. Cotta's classroom as well.