Name ______________________________________ Date _________
Historical Models of the Solar System
Alternative Assessment
Climb the Pyramid: Solar System Models
Complete the activities to show what you’ve learned about
historical models of the solar system.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Unit 3 Lesson 1
SC.8.E.5.8
Work on your own.
Choose one item from each layer of the pyramid. Check your choices.
Have your teacher approve your plan. (*get template from teacher)
Submit or present your results.
__ Playing Games
Design a game based on the
changing views of the solar
system. The game should
include the ideas of Aristotle,
Aristarchus, Ptolemy,
Copernicus, Kepler, and
Galileo. Then allow another
group to play your game.
__ Important
__ A Difference of
Observations
Opinions
Suppose that you are Galileo
and you've just made important
discoveries about the solar
system. Write an informal letter
to one of your friends in which
you explain the observations
you made and the conclusions
that you've drawn from these
observations.
Suppose that a number of
famous scientists and
mathematicians plan to attend
a conference about the solar
system. Ptolemy and
Copernicus are going to attend.
Present an invented dialogue
about the solar system
between Ptolemy and
Copernicus.
__ A Book's Cover
__ This Just In!
__ Publicizing Parallax
Suppose Ptolemy has written a
book in which he presents his
ideas about the way the solar
system works. Design a book
cover for Ptolemy’s book that
includes an illustration of his
ideas and an appropriate title.
Create a breaking news report
(*template available) about
Aristarchus’s idea that Earth
revolves around the sun.
Include information about
Aristarchus's ideas and explain
how his ideas are different from
the ideas that came before his.
Suppose that you are one of
Aristotle's students. Design a
Web page, video, illustration,
or presentation to describe the
idea of parallax. Then describe
how parallax has influenced
the way Aristotle thinks about
the universe.
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Grade 8 • Assessment Guide • Florida
Alternative Assessment
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