Moonlighting With Carle

A WebQuest for 3rd-5th Grade Science


Introduction | Tasks | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Advice

Introduction: 

Today, you will take a moonlighting journey with Eric Carle, a well known author and illustrator. You will explore his book, Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me, get to know Mr. Carle a little better, take a tour and review the solar system, and then blast off into a moon exploration. Fasten your seat belts, it's time for lift-off!

The Tasks: 

To begin your moonlighting journey, you will be taken through several steps. These include:

The Process: 

The journey is continuing. Here are a few websites that will help you to navigate through your journey. It will be beneficial to do these in the order that I have given them to you.
1.  Visit Eric Carle's website to see his biography which gives detailed information on how he became an author and an illustrator, as well as some information about his personal life. To continue on your journey and test your knowledge, you must print out and complete the crossword puzzle.

2.  Now that you have learned a little about Eric Carle, take a break from your journey and read Papa Please Get the Moon for Me. Then go to paint your masterpiece and paint a picture either from one of Eric Carle's books or paint a picture of your favorite moon setting.

3. Let's review the solar system. Take a virtual tour (scroll down to solar system tour and click on virtual tour) of the solar system to review your solar facts. Now see if you can put the solar system in order. You can also try to a crossword puzzle in order to continue on your mission.

4. The next leg of your journey will allow you to explore astronauts. The exploration will include some basic astronaut information as well as specific information about each Apollo 11 member, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins, and Neil Armstrong. After examining this information, Arty the astronaut will take you on an exploration and let you explore and play some games on your own. However, before you blast-off with Arty on your mission, you must complete the astronaut quiz.

5. You are almost to the end of your journey. Even explorers need time to play. Therefore, your last mission will be to relax and take some time out to enjoy your journey. While relaxing, play some interesting games, such as Earth Jeopardy or the Lunar Lander Game. Take some time out to solve a puzzle and try the different levels of difficulty and then color a picture. Enjoy yourself.

The Evaluation: 

Your performance on this journey will be evaluated by the rubric found below. Your grade will be determined on how well you did on each mission that you attempted. Read the rubric carefully to better understand the grading structure that will be applied to this journey.
 
Beginning

1

 Developing

2

 Accomplished

3

 Exemplary

4

 Score
Solve a Crossword Puzzle About Eric Carle
Can answer 5 questions and place them into the puzzle.
Can answer 10 questions and place them into the puzzle.
Can answer 15 questions and place them into the puzzle.
Can answer 20 questions and place them into the puzzle.
  
 Name the Planets and  Put the Solar System in Order
Knows 4 planets but cannot place them into the solar system.
Knows 4 planets and can place them into the solar system.
Knows all 9 planets but cannot place them into solar system.
Knows all 9 planets and can place them into the solar system.
  
Unscramble Space Words
Can unscramble 3 words.
Can unscramble 6 words.
Can unscramble 9 words.
Can unscramble 12 words.
  
Complete the Astronaut Quiz
Answer 5 questions correctly.
Answer 10 questions correctly.
Answer 15 questions correctly.
Answer 20 questions correctly.
  
Score High With Earth Jeopardy
Answer 3 questions correctly and score 300.
Answer 6 questions correctly and score 600.
Answer 9 questions correctly and score 900.
Answer 12 questions correctly and score 1200.
  

Conclusion: 

You have now completed your moonlighting journey. Congratulations on a successful mission. I hope that you enjoyed your journey to the moon and beyond. Always remember, "One step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Credits & References: 

I want to give a big  to NASA for their wonderful website and all the information that they provide for kids and to my partner, Lanice Real, for her help and creativity.

Teacher Advice: 

This lesson is best designed for a 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade science class.

Before beginning this webquest, the students must have some knowledge of the solar system and the moon.

In order to complete one of the processes in this webquest, you will need to have Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle for the students to read.

This webquest could be used as an extension activity for a lesson on the moon, a concluding activity in a unit, or as a computer activity in a learning center.

This lesson does not require any special skills for the teacher and may be done in groups if the teacher desires.

It is necessary to have access to a printer in order to print off some of the student's work.

Created by Shawna Northrop for EDU 506 @ FHU School of Education by Dr. Bruce Lewis on December 10, 2001.