Optional projects going along with the 3rd grader's unit A Journey Through Space and Time Through the Eyes of Different Cultures were distributed 3 weeks ago. I appologize for the tardiness of this posting. While these are optional, I strongly encourage the students to opt to do one (more than one is fine also) of them. For more on the rationale for offering these, please read a previous posting entitled "Optional Projects." The items from which the students are to choose follow.
LINGUISTIC
1. Imagine that you are asked to be one of the first people to settle on the planet Mars. Write a journal about your journey, your first impression, and your observations, both from a scientific point of view and also from an emotional point of view.
2. Many scientists have devoted their life’s work to the study of the universe. Choose a scientist or other notable person whose contribution greatly affected our understanding of space. Prepare and deliver an informative speech of his/her life. You may wish to take on the role of this scientist and deliver the speech as the actual person.
3. The sun is one of the most powerful and amazing objects in nature. Many ancient civilizations worshiped the sun and used it in many myths about the formation of the world. What are some early beliefs about the sun? How did these beliefs affect the lives of the early people? What are some myths which feature the sun? Include information about the people who created these myths and your explanation on why you feel these myths came to be.
VISUAL-SPATIAL
4. Create a mobile featuring objects found in space, including but not limited to: stars, planets, meteoroids, asteroids, galaxies, satellites (natural and man-made).
5. There are two major types of telescopes: reflecting and refracting. Learn more about each, discover their different uses, and draw or make a representation of each, comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences.
6. An astronaut must go through many steps before he/she actually participates in space exploration. Create a power point to show the various steps, from education to interviewing to training to countdown that every astronaut must go through.
MATHEMATICAL-LOGICAL
7. Some countries have different proportions of sunlight to darkness. Compare our sunlight ratio to the North Pole, Australia
, Ecuador
, Egypt
, and a country of your choice. Report your findings on a chart, graph, or poster. What effect might these differences have on these various cultures?
8. Research reports that there are more stars in the universe than grains of sand from all the beaches. How did researchers come to this conclusion? What method of measurement must have been used to calculate the number of stars and/or the number of grains of sand? Explore the number 200 billion: explain what exactly 200 billion is by creating a chart, graph, or other visual.
9. Research solar heating options for your home and provide evidence on the advantages and disadvantages of solar heat. Explain how solar heating works and calculate the difference in costs for heating your home for one year.
BODILY-KINESTHETIC
10. Choreograph an original dance that communicates how you feel about being a star.
11. As we have learned, stars have life cycles. Perform a skit that shows the life cycle of a star.
12. Using your classmates as planets in the solar system, demonstrate the rotation of the planets. Take into consideration proper placement, based on a ratio of distances.
MUSICAL
13. Create a jump rope jingle that will help the class remember what we have learned about the universe.
14. Compose and perform a musical piece which conveys your feelings about the sun and its role in our lives.
15. Write and perform a song which describes the characteristics of your favorite planet.
16. Create your own. Please be sure to discuss this with your teacher and gain approval for your project prior to beginning.
Due Dates:
Monday's class= May 6, 2008
Wednesday's class= May 7, 2008 (note that this is a Tuesday; a scheduling change will occur this week)
The 4th and 5th grade unit Castles, Keeps, and Kingdoms has been progressing nicely. Soon students will have a chance to show off some of the hard work they have been doing. Our feast day is quickly approaching. The 5th graders will have their feast on May 5, 2008. This is a Monday, which is not their usual day for Target. This change of day was necessitated by a conflict with a planned visit of all 5th graders to Mabry Middle School on May 6. The 4th graders will have their feast on May 8, 2008. On both days the festivities will take place in the media center and are planned to go from 8:30 - 10:30. There will be many famous people attending these feasts. The children will be presenting themselves as the character they have been researching. We anticipate them sounding great and looking terrific in their costume. Speeches will be paused for feasting and the entertainment of our class's Nine Men's Morris championship. I wish to take this opportunity to thank you, parents, for such strong support in volunteering items for the feasts. We hope to see you there. 
