Grade Level: Any, however it was
written using middle grades core content.
Area: Science
The Kentucky Science Core Content for middle grades includes many learner objectives on Earth and Space Science. During the unit on space science, we discuss the concepts of gravity, the planets, moons, asteroids, stars, eclipses, etc... We, as a class, make a model of the solar system to scale(as much as possible using a classroom in which to house it). As a culminating event and to fulfill the transactive portion of the 7th grade portfolio, we produce a full color brochure on an assigned planet, star or moon.
Not only do the students produce a beautiful piece but they also learn a wealth of information about a particular planet or other body in our solar system. Due to the portion of the piece that has the students think of ways to be able to live on this planet, they learn some very unusual ways in which to survive. This project intertwines science and creative writing. This is able to be used as a transactive writing because it is informative in nature that could be placed on display at a science museum, planetarium or placed on the internet for elementary-aged students to use as a learning resource.
One of the advantages to writing a brochure is that the writings for each portion of the brochure are relatively short. This allows the student to feel a great sense of accomplishment each time they complete a section.