Sample work Science 7–10 Stage 4: Tabulating Solar System Data

Description of activity

Students are provided with a solar system activity sheet that identifies the orbital speed in kilometres per second (km/s) and distance from the Sun in Astronomical Units (AU) for the seven innermost planets of our solar system.

Students construct a table to summarise and sequence the data provided in the text.

Worksheet

Student Name: ______________________________________________________

Tabulating Data

In the space provided below construct a table that clearly summarises and sequences the numerical data provided in the following passage.

In studying the Solar System, scientists have often made comparisons between the planets. These comparisons traditionally involved observations using a telescope. However, more recent comparisons involve a range of detailed measurements made using other technologies.

One such measurement is of the average distance of a planet from the Sun. Because these distances are so large this measurement is given using units called Astronomical Units. The average distance of the Earth from the Sun is stated as 1.0 Astronomical Unit (AU) and the average distance from the Sun to all other planets is compared to this.

Astronomers are also interested in the speed at which a planet orbits the sun. The Earth’s average orbital speed has been calculated at 30 kilometres per second (km/s). By comparison, Earth’s closest neighbour, Venus, is 0.7 AU from the Sun and orbits the Sun at 35 km/s. Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun in our Solar System, is only 0.4 AU from the Sun and has an orbital speed of 48 km/s.

As we move out from the Earth the average distance of planets from the Sun in astronomical units increases rapidly with Mars at 1.5 AU, Jupiter at 5.2 AU and Saturn at 9.6 AU. As the average distance of planets from the Sun increases their average orbital speed tends to decrease. This is why the orbital speeds of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are 24.0, 13.0 and 10.0 km/s respectively.

Context

Students have undertaken a study of the planet Earth. In the unit The Solar System they are expanding their understanding of how technological advances have increased our knowledge of the other planets within our solar system, including their relative size, movement and distances apart.

Students extract data from a provided resource which enables them to relate the distance of the planets from the Sun and their average orbital speed around the Sun with reference to Earth. Students will organise data into a table and develop skills in identifying trends and patterns in relation to distance from the Sun and average orbital velocity of the planets in our solar system.

Outcomes

A student:

4.9 describes the dynamic structure of the Earth and its relationship to other parts of our solar system and the universe
4.16 accesses information from identified secondary sources
4.17 evaluates the relevance of data and information
4.18 with guidance, presents information to an audience to achieve a particular purpose

Criteria for assessing learning

(These criteria would normally be communicated to students with the activity.)

Students will be assessed on their ability to:

• appropriately sequence in a table numerical data of the planets’ distance from the sun and average orbital speed
• correctly label the table row and column headings using appropriate data from the text
• correctly state the units for the gathered data within the column headings
• accurately transcribe data from the provided text to the correct table cell reference. <

Work Sample Assessment

Cameron

Cameron has accurately constructed a table using the required number of rows and columns with appropriate headings and units. The data has been collected, manipulated and correctly sequenced. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade A standard.

Jessie

Jessie has demonstrated a very high level of competence in the tabulation and interpretation of data. A table has been accurately constructed using the required number of rows and columns with appropriate headings and units. The data has been collected, manipulated and correctly sequenced. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade A standard.

Robyn

Robyn has demonstrated an extensive understanding of the content and a very high level of competence in the collection, manipulation and recording of data. Numerical data has been accurately transcribed and appropriately sequenced. The columns have been correctly labelled with appropriate headings and units. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade A standard.

Shannon

Shannon has demonstrated a thorough understanding of the content and a high level of competence in the collection, manipulation and recording of data. Numerical data has been accurately transcribed and appropriately sequenced with consistent use of units although there is some confusion about where the units can be placed. Most of the row and column headings have been appropriately labelled. Orbital speed has not been included in the column headings but the correct unit for this has been identified. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade B standard.

Ashley

Ashley has demonstrated thorough understanding of the content and a high level of competence in the collection, manipulation and recording of data. The data has been correctly sequenced but inappropriate information about the sun has been included and the transcription of units in the orbital speed column heading is incorrect. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade B standard.

Kerry

Kerry has demonstrated an adequate level of competence in the collection and interpretation of data. The correct number of columns has been included but these have not been labelled. The numerical data has been correctly transcribed but there is no evidence of sequencing. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade C standard.

Courtney

Courtney has demonstrated a basic understanding of the content and a limited level of competence in the collection, manipulation and recording of data. A three-column table has been created and some data has been correctly transcribed but there are no column headings and units have been included in the body of the table. Data on Mercury and Venus has been incorrectly sequenced and Earth has been omitted but distance from the sun has been correctly transcribed for the planets that have been included. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade D standard.

Alex

Alex has demonstrated a limited level of competence in collecting and recording data. There is some evidence of processing but the sequencing is inaccurate and the column for orbital speed has been omitted. The sentences in the table have been taken directly from the passage, indicating a lack of manipulation. There is data missing from the ‘Earth’ values and extraneous information has been included. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade D standard.

Jamie

Jamie has demonstrated an elementary understanding of the content and a very limited level of competence in the collection, manipulation and recording of data. A table has been created with three labelled columns that do not specify units. Data has been transferred to the columns but it has not been appropriately processed or sequenced. This work sample demonstrates characteristics of work typically produced by a student performing at grade E standard.