Help needed with Solar System project

[joe'smom]

Please Help. My 3rd grader is determined to create a project regarding the Solar System. He has already made lots of charts and written information about each planet. He has almost completed his paper mache Solar System. The problem is how do I guide him in forming a hypothesis and what the actual experiment is? It is important for him to follow the guidelines for the Scientific Method but I'm not sure how to get him to go by them. We discussed that he might use a question regarding Gravity on each planet, but I'm not sure. He's already done so much work and has worked really hard on the project, but right now it's really just a display of the Solar System and not a real project. I know it seems as though we don't have a lot of time for this project, but he is homeschooled and I could give him more time during this week on his project if need be. Thanks in advance

[barretttomlinson]

Hi,

It sounds like your son has found a really cool science fair project.

As far as creating a hypothesis goes, have you looked at the Science Buddies Science Fair Project Guide?
It has a pretty good section on variables and creating hypotheses. Here is a link:

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-f ... ndex.shtml

If you are stuck on finding a testable hypothesis you might consider something about how long a “Year” is for each planent. (A “year’ is one revolution around the sun.) Is this the same for each planent, or does it vary somehow with distance from the sun? How?

Have fun!!!

Best regards,

Barrett Tomlinson

[amyc]

Hi - Given that he's already done so much of the display, I'm not sure if you'll find something here that translates well with the work he's already put together or not. Here is a link, however, to the Astronomy projects on the Science Buddies site. It may be that something here will fit in with the approach he's taken?

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-f ... p?ia=Astro

Amy
Science Buddies

[joe'smom]

Barrett and Amy,

Thank you so much for responding so quickly. You helped alot. This project is going to very nice now. I must say I'm really ready for the Science Fair to be over! However, I've learned many things I didn't know before, just by watching and guiding him through this project.

Thanks again,
Ginny

[barretttomlinson]

Hi,

I found a really neat website on the solar system and thought it might be of interest for the project:

http://www.nineplanets.org/

It was referenced on another really interesting astronomy website:

http://www.geosociety.org/educate/resources/s_space.htm

Hope you folks really enjoy the upcoming science fair!!

Barrett Tomlinson