The Great Balloon Debate



The Great Balloon Debate

Assignment:

It is the year 2015 and the world is about to end by nuclear war. There is a hot air balloon that is floating in the sky above the earth’s destruction. The balloon is filled with the following 10 important historical figures.

However, the balloon was only meant to hold 3 people. Who will be the 7 to be kicked off? Choose a person you would like to save and research contributions to society, religion and/or science.

In a short, 3 minute speech, convince and persuade the panel of judges why your person should be saved. You must include the following information:

-what your person contributed

-why that contribution was important to society in the past

-why that contribution is important to our society today

-what this person’s contribution may hold for the future

-why this person should be saved in the balloon!

Chooses one of the following historical figures:

-Henry VIII -Nicolaus Copernicus -Martin Luther

-Sir Isaac Newton -William Harvey

-John Calvin -Francis Bacon -Robert Boyle

-Galileo Galilei -Rene Descartes

Exemplar: This speech could be put onto cue cards and presented to the panel of judges. Students are encouraged to use body language and rhetorical questions for impact.

“Galileo”

Have you ever looked up in the sky and wondered what was above the clouds? Have you ever wanted to be an astronaut when you were a kid and explore space? Have you ever looked through a telescope and seen the beauty of a constellation such as Orion’s Belt or the Big Dipper?

Well, thanks to Galileo all of this is possible.

Often called “the Father of Modern Science”, Galileo Galilei was mathematician, physicist and astronomer born in the 16th century in Italy. One of the most important discoveries that Galileo made was the discovery of Venus in our solar system.

It was also Galileo who came up with the theory of the earth rotating around the sun, as opposed to be the sun going around the earth, which was a common notion in the 16th century.

Can you imagine if Galileo did not make this discovery? Our seasons, years and calendars may not be what they are today. Who knows how time would measured.

Galileo also developed the thermometer in 1593. Although it was only a crude development at the time, 500 years later we are still using this valuable tool. Think of the many practical uses of the thermometer! For example, here in Ottawa I am very glad that I am able to tell the temperature and dress appropriately!

Another development Galileo made was the invention of the telescope which was made between the years 1603 and 1624. This telescope not only served as a key to the great mystery of what is in our universe, but it also lead to developments of things like microscopes. Thanks to this idea of using lenses to refract light and magnify things, doctors and scientists can help find cures to diseases and sicknesses.

On top of all that, he also made many contributions to the subjects of Mathematics and Physics. Although I personally don’t understand all these subjects, his theories are still being used in those subjects today, and today’s modern scientists use them to develop roller coasters, airplanes, cars etc.

Saving Galileo would ensure that all of the technologies and conveniences that science has brought to our modern world, will continue once the world ends in 2012.

And I personally want to make sure that I can view the beautiful stars on a clear summer night, in the new world after 2012

Task Rubric: The Great Balloon Debate

|Expectations |Criteria |Level 1 |Level 2 |Level 3 |Level 4 |

|Knowledge/ |The student demonstrates an understanding|-demonstrates limited |-demonstrates some understanding |-demonstrates considerable |-demonstrates a thorough |

|Understanding |of the individual’s life and |understanding of the individual’s |of the individual’s life and |understanding of the individual’s |understanding of the individual’s |

| |contributions to society. |life and contributions to society |contributions to society |life and contributions to society |life and contributions to society |

|Thinking/Inquiry | | | | | |

| |The student accurately evaluates the |-evaluates the impacts made on |-evaluates the impacts made on |-evaluates the impacts made on |-evaluates the impacts made on |

| |impacts made on society by the chosen |society by the chosen individual |society by the chosen individual |society by the chosen individual |society by the chosen individual |

| |individual. |with limited accuracy |some accuracy |with considerable accuracy |with high degree of accuracy |

|Communication | | | | | |

| |The student demonstrates ability in |-demonstrates limited ability in |-demonstrates some ability in |-demonstrates considerable ability|-demonstrates a high degree of |

| |presenting speech through effective oral |presenting speech, through oral |presenting speech, through oral |in presenting speech, through oral|ability in presenting speech, |

| |communication (ie. voice, tone, speed), |communication, body language and |communication, body language and |communication, body language and |through oral communication, body |

| |body language and vocabulary. |vocabulary. |vocabulary |vocabulary |language and vocabulary |

|Application |The speech conveys a sense of persuasion |-conveys limited sense of |-conveys some sense of persuasion |-conveys a considerable sense of |-conveys a strong sense of |

| |to the audience. |persuasion | |persuasion |persuasion |

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