This document provides a rubric and essential question for a student project on touring the solar system. The rubric will be used to provide feedback and grade student brochures and reflections on the project. The essential question students must address is "What makes our solar system unique?". The rubric evaluates students on elements of their brochures such as titles, organization, creativity, and spelling. It also evaluates the thoughtfulness and addressal of the essential question in students' written reflections. Due dates for submitting the brochure and reflection are provided.

1. Name:_______________________________
Tour of Our Solar System: Rubric & Essential Question
A rubric is a scoring tool I will be using to give you feedback and a grade on your project.
Essential Question: What makes our solar system unique?
Tour of the Solar System Brochure Reflection
‐Engaging title Reflection is very thoughtful and
‐Labels/Clearly defined categories fully addresses the essential
(Milky Way, Sun, terrestrial planets, gas giants, Kuiper Belt, questions.
special presentation on Earth, comets)
‐Appropriate/clear pictures
‐Very persuasive
4 ‐Decorated
‐Precise language
‐Easy to understand
‐Orderly/ organized
‐Shows creativity (i.e. “fun facts”)
‐Correct spelling
‐Has a title Reflection is thoughtful and
‐Labels/Clearly defined categories addresses the essential questions.
(Milky Way, Sun, terrestrial planets, gas giants, Kuiper Belt,
special presentation on Earth, comets)
‐Mostly appropriate/clear pictures
‐Persuasive
3 ‐Decorated
‐Some precise language
‐Mostly easy to understand
‐Orderly/ organized
‐Shows some creativity (i.e. “fun facts”)
‐Few spelling errors
‐May or may not have a title Reflection needs some more work
‐Missing some labels: (Milky Way, Sun, terrestrial planets, and may not address all the
gas giants, Kuiper Belt, special presentation on Earth, essential questions.
comets)
‐Few, if any appropriate/clear pictures
‐Weak persuasive arguments
2 ‐May or may not be decorated
‐Imprecise language
‐Difficult at times to understand
‐Weak organization
‐Limited creativity shown (i.e. “fun facts”)
‐Many spelling errors
A brochure was not made. A reflection was not written.
1

2. Name:_______________________________
Reflection:
In a written reflection, answer the essential question: what makes our solar system unique? In
your reflection, state the unique characteristics and evidence to support or explain that claim.
Example:
(Unique characteristics)
Melrose Elementary School is a unique school because we are a STARR school that has morning
meetings as both a school and as a class in room 28.
(Evidence)
Morning meetings are a time for students to work together, learn about each other, and share. Other
schools do not meeting school wide, though many will still have morning meetings in their classrooms.
Due Dates:
• Brochure
o Monday, February 7th, 2011 to Dr. Olabuenaga’s email.
 golabuenaga2@gmail.com
• Reflection
o Wednesday, February 9th, 2011
 Posted to the comment section of http://melrosestars28.blogspot.com/