VFT - Learning Objectives

Objectives specify what the learners will be able to do after completing the virtual field trip. Objectives should be stated as intended learning outcomes. Stating objectives as intended learning outcomes provides a focus for the virtual field trip and a basis for assessment.

Example: The Explore the Planets Virtual Field Trip.

Explain how each planet got its name.

Describe the ordinal position from the Sun for each planet.

Explain how long it takes for each planet to rotate on its axis.

Describe the size of each planet and how it relates to the sizes of the other planets.

Explain the force of gravity at the surface of each planet.

Explain how long it takes each planet to orbit the Sun.

Explain the composition of the atmosphere of each planet.

VFT Curriculum Standards Addressed:

National and state academic standards are the skills and knowledge base expected of students for a specific subject area at a particular grade level. Content standards refer to what students should know and be able to do. Many textbook publishers align national and/or state standards to grade level and subject content in their textbooks (for a complete list of State Standards go to -http://www.educationworld.com/standards/state/toc/index.shtml).

What national and state standards do virtual field trips address?

Example of ISTE NETS-S Standards

State Standards: Identified local, state or national standards that align your virtual field trip with your curriculum.
To find your State Standards, click on the State Standard Quick Link.

Example of ISTE NETS-S Standards addressed in a VFT:
NETS-S (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)


Example of State Standard addressing Earth and Space Science:
Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Science and Technology
Addressed D.3.4.7 Grade 7

1. Describe essential ideas about the composition and structure of the
    universe and the earth’s place in it.
2. Compare various planets’ characteristics.
3. Describe basic star types and identify the sun as a star type.
4. Describe and differentiate comets, asteroids and meteors.
5. Identify gravity as the force that keeps planets in orbit around the sun and governs the
    rest of the movement of the solar system and the universe.

Each planet has unique and identifiable features. 

Planets have some common features.

Planet size, composition, density and orbits vary from the Sun outward.

Conditions on planets vary as a result of distance from the Sun and its composition. 

There are differences between asteroids, comets, and meteorites.

Define key vocabulary words that are used in the virtual field trip.

Example:
Asteroid - a small, rocky body that orbits a star.

Atmosphere - the layers of gases which surround a star, like our Sun, or a planet, like our Earth.

Big Bang Theory - the giant explosion that is theorized to have created the universe 10 billion to 20 billion years ago.

Comet - Comets are basically dusty snowballs which orbit the sun. They are made of ices, such as water, carbon dioxide, ammonia and methane, mixed with dust.

Constellation - one of the 88 patterns of stars in the sky often named for a mythological god, hero, or animal.

Galaxy - an enormous gravitationally bound assemblage of millions or billions of stars.

Meteor - the flash of light that we see in the night sky when a small chunk of interplanetary debris burns up as it passes through our atmosphere. "Meteor" refers to the flash of light caused by the debris, not the debris itself.

Meteorites - a part of a meteoroid that survives through the Earth's atmosphere.

Planet - a large rocky or gaseous body that orbits a star.

Speed of light - the fastest possible speed in a vacuum, equivalent to 186,000 miles per second (300,000 km per second).

Rotation - the spinning of an object on its axis.

Solar System - the system containing the sun and all the smaller bodies in orbit around it.

Sun - is the star at the center of our solar system .

Universe - the vast expanse of space which contains all of the matter and energy in existence.

VFT – Activity Sheet or Travel Journal

An Activity Sheet defines what learning activities will be employed to meet the virtual field trip objectives.

The VFT Activity sheet employs active learning practices.
These can include:

• collection, manipulation, and synthesis of data
• mapping
• compare and contrast questions
• predictive questions
  
  Example:
  
  Directions: Print out activity sheet (Travel Journal). Click on each of the Eight Planets and Answer the following questions for each of the Eight Planets:

  Each Planet's Name: Explain how each Planet got its name. What does its name mean?

  Position in the Solar System: Where is each planet located (for example, Venus is the second planet from the Sun)? How far from the Sun is each planet?

  Rotation on its Axis: How long does it take each planet to rotate on its own axis? (This is one day on each planet.)

  Size: How large is each planet? How does it rate, in terms of size in relation to the other planets (is it the biggest, the smallest)? What is each planet's mass?

  Gravity: What is the force of gravity at the surface of each planet? For example, what would a 100-pound person weigh on that planet?

  Orbit: How long does it take for each planet to orbit the Sun? (This is one year on each planet.)

  Atmosphere: What is the composition of the atmosphere on each? Is it a thick or a thin atmosphere?

  Temperature: What is the temperature range of each planet? How does this compare to the temperature on Earth?

  Composition of the Planet and its Appearance: What type of planet is it (is it rocky or a gas giant)? What is its internal composition? What does your planet look like?

  Moons: If there are moons orbiting each of the planets, describe them and list how many.

  Rings: If there are rings orbiting a planet, describe them.

  How Would a Human Being Fare on Each Planet: On each planet, would a person choke in the atmosphere, be squashed by the extreme gravity, float with ease, freeze, burn up, or something else?

  Interesting facts: Describe two interesting facts about each planet.

  Asteroid, Meteor, and Comet: Describe the differences between an asteroid, meteor, and comet.

VFT – Summary and Discussion

Summarize and discuss main ideas, concepts and key points, using the
Activity Journal as a guide.

Example:

Students summarize what they have learned either individually or in groups by discussing
the features for each of the planets they have explored using the activity sheet as a guide.