GEN: Critical thinking

[pat lambert <pat2@ANIMAS.FRONTIER.NET>]

The 3rd grade students at my school are researching and writing a report
on a topic related to SPACE.  To go along with the report they are doing
for the classroom teacher, I as the media specialist, want them to do
critical thinking and draw
conclusions from data provided through a library resource, related to
SPACE.  Below are questions I have thought of:

1 - Does the distance from the Sun affect a planets temperature?  Why?
    ( The student will have to find the distance of each planet from the
       Sun. And find out the average temperature of each planet.  The
       student will then have to draw a conclusion from the data that
       was located.)

2 - What planets have a possibility of life as we know it?
    ( The student will have to research what conditions are necessary for
      life to exist.  Then what planets meet those conditions.)

3 - What defines (makes something) a planet?  Does Pluto meet these
    criteria?  (student will have to find out the definition of a planet
    and compare that information to Pluto and then draw a conclusion.)

4 - Does the size of a planet have anything to do with how many moons
    the planet has?  Why? (The student will have to find out how many moons
each
    planet has and the size of the planet and then draw a conclusion.)

I would appreciate any comments you have regarding these questions and
ask that if you have additional questions that I might have them
investigate, please write me.

I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Pat Lambert
Needham Elem
Durango, CO