Process
Galactic Debate
As a class group, you are to conduct a Galactic Senate Debate with a difference!
Pluto is going to prepare a case to appeal to the Planet Disabilities Forum re unlawful discrimination. Pluto is to plead his/her case referring to the impact this will have on the history of Science, Astronomy, Astrology, Space Travel.
Character or Roles
Select a role from the following as well as Pluto and his/her team:
Using Anthropomorphism, each member of the class is to portray a different character representing the celestial bodies within our Solar System: Mercury; Venus; Earth; Mars; Ceres; Jupiter; Saturn; Uranus; Neptune; Charon; Eris (formerly known as Xena); Quaoar; and, a Kuiper Belt Object. There are also to be: the Chancellor and Jedi Knights; a Member of Lovell's family; a Member of the 2006 IAU which stripped Pluto of its Panel; an Astronomer who didn't want Pluto to be demoted; a Textbook writer; a Scientific Historian; and, the Pluto Disabilities Educational Support Officer.
Process
The Chancellor and Jedi Knights are to develop the rules of the Galactic Senate - how it is to be conducted. They are also to be the Jury and make a decision about the Status of Pluto.
Each representative from the celestial bodies - Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are to write up the criteria for Planet Status and then represent their celestial body to continue being a Planet.
Each representative from the celestial bodies - Ceres, Charon, Eris, Quaoar, a Kuiper Belt Object are to write up the criteria for a Planet from their perspective.
Pluto is to present the case for re-instatement - positives and negatives. Pluto is to answer the question: "How can Pluto position itself in the New Galactic Order?" When role playing as a Plutonian, this celestial body has to describe - "how you feel being demoted" to the Galactic Senate.
The debate has to include: Nature of Planets - are gas planets really planets? Why is a gas planet a planet?; is the word "Dwarf" an adjective or a noun; and, the definition of a planet.
Resources
Honey, I shrunk the Solar System
Yes, Pluto really is a Planet!
New Definition would add 3 "Planets" to Solar System
Astronomers fight to restore Pluto's planet status
Planet-sized
debate on the horizon
Pluto:
Planet or Comet?
Working Group on Extrasolar Planets & A Position Statement on the Definition of a "Planet"
A
Good Definition of the Word "Planet": Mission Impossible?
What
is a Planet? Technical Paper by Professor Gibor Basri
An orb by any other name: Debate over what constitutes a planet is far from settled
Defining "Planet" - a draft paper by Professor Gibor Basri
Reinstate
Pluto as a Planet
Bad
Astronomy
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Last updated September 2006