Earth Systems
Standard I, Objective 1, D
Title: Universe Theories and Technology PowerPoints/Poster
Description: Student groups will research various topics related to the universe and it’s formation. They will design a presentation to make to their class. They can make a power point presentation or a poster presentation.
Time Needed: for power point: 2-3 50 minute periods for development, 50 minutes for presentation. For poster presentation: 50 minutes of preparation, 30-50 for presentation
Materials: Computers with access to PowerPoint, Internet to conduct research, a way for students to save and turn in PowerPoints (hand in folder on server, disks, thumb drives, etc.).
Time Needed: 2-3 fifty minute class periods to introduce and create the PowerPoints. Another 1-2 days for presentations.
Student Background Knowledge:
Students should have been introduced to these theories and technologies so that they have a basic understanding and can determine whether information they find is relevant. Students also need to understand how to use PowerPoint. You can show them a quick tutorial, most students do know how to use it. If some students are completely clueless, have them partner up with a student who is good at PowerPoint. I also spend a day discussing plagiarism with my students before this assignment. If you don’t they will likely just copy and paste information from the web into PowerPoint and not have any idea what it means.
Procedures:
1) Hook: Ask students how they think scientists come up with theories and create new technologies. Does the idea just pop into their head from nowhere? Open it up for class discussion.
2) Discuss with students how theories and even technologies build on the ideas of others over hundreds of years. The knowledge of past scientists helps scientists today continue to move forward.
3) You can allow students to work alone or in pairs. This may depend on how many computers you have available. You can decide if you need to partner them up or if they choose their own partners.
4) Handout the student sheets and read through the procedures with them. Be sure to include how students need to go about saving their PowerPoints and how to turn them in.
5) Assign each group a technology or theory to research.
6) Allow students to research their topic and create their PowerPoint. Be prepared to redirect them on some of the information they may find that isn’t valid.
7) Remind students to fulfill all the requirements first. Then they can add all the fun animations, sounds, or backgrounds they want.
8) If you want the students to present their PowerPoints to the class, have them do so. They can fill out the notes page as the other groups present.
Student Sheet
Name______Period_____
Title: Universe Theories and Technology PowerPoints
Procedures: You can work with ONE other person on this project or you can choose to work alone. You will be assigned one of the theories listed below. Your PowerPoint must include all of the following:
1) Title Page with your names and Title of your presentation (Title should be your theory or technology).
2) Define the theory or technology- in your own words.
3) Tell when the theory or technology was created and who created it.
4) List three facts about the theory or technology- in your own words.
5) Include two pictures that help make the theory or technology easier to understand.
6) Include your personal opinions on the validity of the theory or the importance of the technology (for technology: is it worth the money spent to create and maintain it?).
7) Write a question that if answered correctly would show the other students understood your presentation.
8) A bibliography showing where you got your information from.
Theories/Technologies that will be researched:
1. The big bang theory 2. The red shift, blue shift, and Doppler Effect.
3. Open Universe 4. Closed Universe
5. Inflationary theory 6. Heliocentric Theory
7. Geocentric Theory 8. Steady State Theory
9. Telescopes 10. Satellites
11. Hubble Space Telescope 12. Observatories
Write your assigned topic here ______
Students Reminders:
1. You will only have 3 days to work on this in the media center. If you do not finish in those 3 days, you will have to finish on your own time.
2. Complete all the requirements first. You should have at least 8 slides following the requirements above. Then you may add any backgrounds or animations you want to.
3. Save your PowerPoint often, so you don’t loose it.
4. You will be presenting these. Before you are finished decide who is presenting what slides.
How to complete your bibliography:
For each source you used, write retrieved from: then copy and paste the web address onto your bibliography. Then put the date you received the information. Below is an example.
Example: Retrieved from: http://library.thinkquest.org/19012/begin.htm
on Sept. 19, 2006.
Name______Period_____
Theories/Technologies PowerPoint Presentation Notes
Directions: During the presentations, take notes on 6 theories and one technology presentation. DO NOT take notes on the theory you did! For each presentation write down two important things you learned.
1) Theory Name: ______
A. ______
B. ______
2) Theory Name: ______
A. ______
B. ______
3) Theory Name: ______
A. ______
B. ______
4) Theory Name: ______
A. ______
B. ______
5) Theory Name: ______
A. ______
B. ______
6) Theory Name: ______
A. ______
B. ______
7) Technology: ______
A. ______
B. ______
8) Which theory or theories do you think best explain how the universe began and how it will end?
9) Each year nations around the world spend billions of dollars on technology for space exploration. The money goes towards satellites, telescopes, space shuttles, etc. Do you think that so much money should be spent on technology used in space? Why or Why not?
10) Is the question above something science alone can answer?
Rubric for Poster Presentation:
Superior / Excellent / Good / Fair / PoorContent / Content is complete in all details. Shows in depth research about the topic. Includes the most recent information. / Content is complete and includes most details. Shows good research. Contains some recent information. / Content is complete and well organized. Used only information from text or other sources provided by the teacher. / Content is mostly complete but not well organized. Used only information from text or other sources provided by the teacher. / Content is not complete. Most information is copied out of text and that is the only source used.
Complete / Title, illustration, summary, memory device and assessment questions are complete. / One part missing. / 2 parts missing. / 3 parts missing / 4 parts missing.
Presentation / The group presented their information clearly and precisely. They not only presented but also checked thoroughly for how well the members in the class understood what they had taught. / The group presented their information clearly and precisely. Some assessment was done to check for understanding. / The group presented their information clearly and precisely. There was no assessment. / The group
delegated
one person to present. Presentation was complete or by the group was disjointed and incomplete. The information had to be supplemented by the teacher. / The group either delegated their group to have one person who only partially covered the topic, or used the group but presentation was mostly incomplete, short, disjointed, and the teacher had to supplement the information.
Respect / During each presentation, students are attentive and take notes. They ask questions and participate in the assessment. / During each presentation, students are attentive and take notes. They participate in the assessment. / During each presentation, students are attentive and take notes. / During each presentation students are attentive, and may or may not take notes but talk to others. / During each presentation students are not attentive, and are distracting to others.
Power Point Presentation Rubric
Power Point / At least 8 slides. A background other than white and text other than black. At least 5 pictures (4 must be from the internet). Text and graphics and special effects must work together to enhance the presentation. Must cover topic thoroughly. / At least 7 slides.
A background other than white and text other than black.
At least 4 pictures (3 must be from the internet)
Text and graphics, and special effects must should work together to enhance the presentation.
The presentation should present good evidence about the origins of the universe. / At least 6 slides.
A background other than white.
At least 3 pictures (2 must be from the internet.
Text and graphics must have some special effect.
The presentation must make sense; it must be able to teach someone about the origins of the universe. / At least 5 slides. A background other than white. At least 3 pictures (2 must be from the internet). Text and graphics must have some special effect. The presentation must make sense; it must be able to teach someone about the origins of the universe.
Presentation / Student uses the presentation to teach with and does not read directly off the slides as they are shown. Student does not rush and takes time answer questions / Student uses the presentation to teach the class. May look at the slide to get information but does not read it from off the slide. Student does not rush and takes time to answer questions. / Student uses the presentation to teach the class. Often refers to the slide and reads what is on it. Student does not rush and takes time to answer questions. / Student uses the presentation to teach the class. Reads directly from the slide and does not take time to answer questions.