Space Junk | Space Science Articles + Research Project Template Set

Teach space junk with confidence using a paired set of resources that makes orbital debris science engaging, differentiated, and assessment ready for middle and high school. The dual reading passage set builds strong background knowledge with two versions on the same topic, one with approximately 15 paragraphs and 6 questions, including three comprehension questions plus a fill in the gaps task, a true or false item, and a critical thinking prompt, and a second, more streamlined option with approximately 10 paragraphs and 5 questions, including two comprehension questions plus fill in the gaps, true or false, and a critical thinking prompt.

Students then extend their learning with a research project template that guides a one paragraph summary, a mathematics connection using real data such as orbital speed, altitude, and collision risk, and an engineering or technological connection that explores tracking systems, satellite design, shielding, and debris removal solutions. The template also includes a five term glossary, three core challenging inquiry questions with two optional sets of three extra questions for easy differentiation across ages and ability levels, and a creative item space that boosts ownership while staying science focused. A clear 20 point rubric supports self, peer, or teacher assessment, and the included implementation guidance helps you run this as an independent project, group task, extension activity, or full space science mini unit.

This space junk research project template (webquest) provides the perfect grab and go, print and provide resource that can help your students learn all about space junk. For digital, you can provide a Google doc copy for ease of submission or a Microsoft word version as well. In this space junk research project template (webquest) with questions to check comprehension and inspire scientific thinking. It gives a rich and supportive framework that can be tweaked as needed for students to support differentiation.

This space junk research project template includes:

• Space for a one paragraph summary (that links to the 2 page science article also available on this topic - but does not have to).
• Students should produce a mathematical connection, an engineering / technology connection, 2 interesting facts / stats.
• 5 glossary terms they should fill in with their own words (which also links to the science article also available)
• 3 thought provoking questions (ie: critical thinking questions) they must answer.
• Finally, each template has 3 alternative thought provoking questions for younger students and 3 other alternative harder questions to extend high flying or older students. Giving you a total of 9 possible thought provoking questions that could be used with students to enhance their research and critical thinking.
• Further, I have added a 1 page - 20 point rubric to be used for either self-assessment or teacher assessment as you deem fit. I hope it helps support the learning even further!
• The template is some of my best work and I am proud to share it with you.

This 2 article set of What is Space Junk? reading passages with questions provides the perfect grab and go, print and provide resource that can help your students learn all about What is Space Junk? For digital, you can provide a Google doc copy for ease of submission or a Microsoft word version as well. In this What is Space Junk? article with questions to check comprehension and inspire scientific thinking.

The accessible version is geared towards approximately 5th / 6th / 7th grade science students, while the more advanced version is geared towards approximately 8th / 9th / 10th grade science students. This range for both could be extended with prep work or additional materials.

A SCIENCE RESEARCH PROJECT TEMPLATE + DUAL READING PASSAGES CAN BE USED SO MANY WAYS:

• Useful for substitute (sub) teaching
• To extend students
• To increase scientific literacy and research skills in your class
• Great as a lesson filler when class goes too fast and you need a long running task
• To inspire students on a particular topic
• As a scaffold to support students who need support on research skills and can use a framework
• To enhance critical thinking when doing research and making a relevant and interesting output
• Give a selection of these research project templates for students to choose from
• To enhance students ability to express ideas and synthesis knowledge
• To increase scientific literacy in your class
• A weekly reading / research task

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

Space Junk Science Research Project Template

• 7 page Google doc teacher version with supporting appendix items
• 3 page Google doc student version with room to fill in answers (text boxes)
• 7 page Word doc teacher version with supporting appendix items
• 3 page Word doc student version with room to fill in answers (text boxes)
• 7 page PDF teacher version with supporting appendix items
• 3 page PDF student version with space to fill in answers
• 1 page 20 point rubric for self or teacher assessment in all three - Google doc, Word doc and PDF form

Space Junk Dual Reading Passage Set

• 2 - 3 page Word doc image - textboxes teacher version with answers
• 2 - 2 page Word doc image - textboxes student version with room to fill in answers (text boxes)
• 2 - 3 page PDF teacher version with answers
• 2 - 2 page PDF student version without answers (but space left to do so)
• 2 - 3 page Google doc image - textboxes teacher version with answers
• 2 - 2 page Google doc image - textboxes student version with room to fill answers (text boxes)

Please note: That the Doc versions are images with editable text boxes overlayed on top and this is the most effective way to keep the article sleek and well-designed and also that students cannot change things significantly.