We will be studying the planets of our solar system. The size of each planet and the distance between each planet and the sun is extremely large, and in some cases millions of kilometers. In order to put it all in perspective, we will be constructing scale models.

You will be assigned one of the nine planets to research. Using your textbook, other reference materials and the internet, find out information about your planet. You must find the information to complete the "Planetary Data Table", and any other relevant information about your planet (such as appearance, unique characteristics, etc.)

Use a styrofoam ball or other suitable material to create a model of your planet. These models will not be to scale. Use the information you already gathered to guide you as to its appearance. You will be given some class time to construct these models using paint, construction paper and other materials. This will be graded, and accuracy, neatness, visual appeal and creativity will count.

Using the data you collected in Task 1, calculate how many meters (or in some cases kilometers) your planet would be from the Sun, if the diameter of the Earth is 50 millimeters (mm). If Room 258 at Amity High School is the center of the Sun, and the Earth is 50 mm in diameter, and all the planetary orbits are circular (not elliptical), then where would your planet be? Figure this out using internet or local street maps (remember to use metric). Show your calculations! Draw a circle on the map to represent your planet’s orbit. Then find an intersection or recognizable landmark that is on your planet’s orbit. Have your picture taken holding your model at that place. (There must be something in the picture that shows that you are in the right spot.) Everything is to be in metric units. Use Page 648 in the text for conversions of units of measure if you lost the sheet I gave you at the beginning of the year. Most U.S. maps use a scale of 1 inch = some distance. For simplicity’s sake, use 25 mm is equal to 1 inch. If you are doing Pluto – see me for further directions.

Create a poster with all the information you collected about your planet (including the data in the "Planetary Data Table"), your map with the circle drawn on it and calculations, and the picture of you with your planet in the "right" spot. This will be considered a final project grade. Bring in your poster with your planet. We will hang the planets in the room.

My Planet is ___________________________________