Are your students ready to tackle the challenge of designing a civilization on a distant planet? The Planet Civilization Project is a comprehensive and engaging research project that will encourage your 4th-6th graders to think critically and creatively about space, science, and survival. This project seamlessly combines research, problem-solving, and hands-on design, making learning both meaningful and enjoyable.

• Project introduction slideshow (Google Slides)
• Websites for research
• Project overview and teacher instructions
• Student assignment list – track who is assigned which planet
• Student pages
• Instructions
• Grading rubric
• Student research note-taking pages
• Civilization design checklist
• Design templates (great differentiation piece)
• Creativity boosters (great differentiation or extension piece)
• Writing guide
• Writing templates (great differentiation piece)
• Self-assessment
• Planet overviews for Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune – perfect for differentiating for students who may be unable to do all of the research on their own but can still participate in creating a civilization
• Planet research answer keys and civilization blueprint guides – allows teachers to quickly fact check their students’ work and make sure that the blueprints are realistic for their assigned planet
• Project photos from my own 6th grade class
• Editable pages in a Google Slides file (all student pages other than design templates and assignment list)

• Develops Critical Thinking: Students apply scientific knowledge to solve complex problems in creative ways.
• Promotes Collaboration: The project is flexible for both group work and individual study, fostering teamwork and communication skills.
• Aligns with Science Standards: Complements units on space, the solar system, and environmental science.
• Flexible & Adaptable: Includes materials that can be differentiated to meet various learning levels and instructional needs.

• PDF: To view and use the PDF file, you’ll need Adobe Reader (a free download). Using other PDF software may cause formatting issues.
• Google Slides: Access the Google Slides version using the link provided in the included PDF. You’ll need a (free) Google account to use this file.