Activities and Resources
The following are samples of activities and resources can be found on pages 48-51
of the Participation Guide (PDF - 3.6 MB).
"How would your community be different on Mars?"
NASA Activities and Resources to address the question
Part A: What is Mars like?
Topics to Explore
- The atmosphere of Mars
- The surface of Mars
- The near-Mars surface
- Chemistry on Mars
- Energy on Mars
- Indigenous life on Mars
Possible Activities
- Visit the library or the Internet to access information about Mars' atmosphere and
surface features. Is there air on Mars? Is there gravity? Is water present? What is the
climate and temperature on Mars? Based on scientific exploration, is there evidence of
changes in atmosphere or surface over time?
- Work in teams to design and construct a prototype spacesuit for working on Mars.
http://www.challenger.org/mmp
Challenger Center, Exploring the Surface of Mars
http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/welcome/mars.htm
Welcome to the Planets/Mars
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/planets/marspage.html
Mars at the National Space Science Data Center
Exploring the Moon; A Teacher's Guide with Activities for Earth and Space Sciences
EG-1997-10-116-HQ Educators, Grades 4-12
http://spacelink.nasa.gov/products
Planetary Geology; A Teacher's Guide with Activities in Physical and Earth Sciences
EG-1998-03-109-HQ Educators & Students, Grades 5-12 http://spacelink.nasa.gov/products
- Research what space is like near Mars and whether the space environment has changed over time.
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/planetaryfaq.html#Mars
http://ssdoo.gsfc.nasa.gov/education/education_home.html
Exploring Meteorite Mysteries; A Teacher's Guide with Activities for Earth and Space Sciences
EG-1997-08-104-HQ Educators, Grades 5-12
http://spacelink.nasa.gov/products
Planetary Geology; A Teacher's Guide with Activities in Physical and Earth Sciences
EG-1998-03-109-HQ Educators & Students, Grades 5-12 http://spacelink.nasa.gov/products
- Research other aspects of Mars, such as the forms of energy that might reach Mars.
Do energy cycles exist on Mars?
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/MPF/science/science-index.html
Mars Pathfinder Science Index
- Read about the 1997 Mission to Mars. Find out what was learned about the chemistry
of Mars. What elements and compounds exist? What chemical systems can be found?
Discuss any evidence that scientists have to suggest changes in Mars' chemical systems
over time.
http://eis.jpl.nasa.gov/~skientz/little_rock/
The Story of a Little Rock on Mars
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/MPF/mpf-pressrel.html
Nov. 4, 1997 Mars Pathfinder Winds Down After Phenomenal Mission press release
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/MPF/science/science-index.html
Mars Pathfinder Science Index
- Find out about indigenous life on Mars. Is there scientific evidence of
life on Mars? Has life ever existed on Mars?
http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/marslife/index.html
Life on Mars?
- Investigate magazine and newspaper articles from August 1996 and March 1999
about the discovery of Martian meteorites that have led to discussion about the
possibility of primitive life on Mars.
http://www.seti.org/howlife.html
How Might Life Evolve on Other Worlds?
http://astrobiology.arc.nasa.gov/overview.html
Mars-Primitive Life Research. NASA Astrobiology: The Study of the Living Universe
http://spacelink.nasa.gov/NASA.Projects/Space.Science/Solar.System/Mars-
Primitive.Life.Research/.index.html
Mars-Primitive Life Research
Part B: How has technology allowed us to learn about Mars? How might technology
in the future allow us to know more?
Topics to Explore
- Robotic Spacecraft
- Mars Surveyor
- Viking Orbiter
- Mars Pathfinder
- Hubble Telescope
Possible Activities
- Find out about the technology that enabled humans to know what we know about
Mars. Develop a timeline to show what we have learned about Mars over time. What
technologies have enabled us to push the limits in our exploration? What limitations
have scientists had in learning more about Mars?
Rockets; A Teacher's Guide with Activities in Science, Mathematics, and Technology
EG-1996-09-108-HQ Educators, Grades K-12
http://spacelink.nasa.gov/products
Suited for Spacewalking; A Teacher's Guide with Activities for Technology Education,
Mathematics and Science EG-1998-03-112-HQ Educators, Grades 5-12
http://spacelink.nasa.gov/products
Let's Talk Robotics; Liftoff to Learning Series, A Videotape for Technology
Education and Physical Science EV-1998-04-015-HQ Educators, Grades 5-12 (CORE)
Living In Space, Liftoff to Learning Series, A Videotape for Life Science and
Physical Science EV-1997-07-007-HQ Educators, Grades K-3 (CORE)
http://www-spof.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/Sintro.htm
"From Stargazers to Starships" deals with the world of gravity, massive planets,
and stars, and the way space flight is achieved despite their strong pull. The
material is suitable for high school students and gives historical background as
well as the latest scientific findings.
- Build a model of the Pathfinder. How might engineers modify it for future
missions to Mars?
http://www.challenger.org/mars.html
Challenger Center for Space Science Education Mars Pathfinder Lander model
http://redrover.planetary.org/
Red Rover, a project developed by The Planetary Society, Visionary Products Inc.
and the LEGO Company. Red Rover, Red Rover permits tele-operation of model LEGO
rovers in simulated Mars terrains. Schools, science centers, students, and adults
worldwide engage in a simulation of the robotic control of rovers on Mars.
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/MPF/rovercom/pix.html
Mars Microrover Homepage
Part C: How would a community on Mars be like your Earth community? How would
it be different?
Topics to Explore
- How position and motion affect Earth and Mars
- Similarities and differences in the surface features of Earth and Mars
- Similarities and differences in the atmosphere of Earth and Mars
- Comparison of Mars's and Earth's chemistries
- Comparison of energy systems on Mars and Earth
- Human impact on Mars and Earth
Possible Activities
- Build a model of the solar system. Focus on Earth and Mars and their relative
size, position, and motion within the solar system. Discuss how these factors
would impact temperature, weather, climate, and life on Earth and Mars.
Solar System Puzzle Kit, An Activity for Earth and Space Science EP-1997-04-356-HQ
Educators and Students, grades 5-12 http://spacelink.nasa.gov/products
- Compare the atmosphere and surface features of Earth and Mars. Which features of
Earth allow humans to have their basic needs met? Discuss how these would be
different on Mars.
http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/welcome/earth.htm
http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/welcome/mars.htm
Welcome to the Planets
Earth at the National Space Science Data Center
Mars at the National Space Science Data Center
- Identify and discuss Earth's natural resources. Develop a list of ways these natural
resources positively affected the lives of Earth's inhabitants. How would this be
different or the same on Mars? How would humans have to modify their lives if they
were on Mars?
Exploring Meteorite Mysteries: A Teacher's Guide with Activities for Earth and Space
Sciences EG-1997-08-104-HQ Educators, Grades 5-12 http://spacelink.nasa.gov/products
Planetary Geology: A Teacher's Guide with Activities in Physical and Earth Sciences
EG-1998-03-109-HQ Educators and Students, Grades 5-12 http://spacelink.nasa.gov/products
Geography From Space; Liftoff to Learning Series, A Videotape for Earth and Space
Science, Life Science, and Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
EV-1997-07-005-HQ Educators, Grades K-8 (CORE)
- Look for ways humans have had an impact on Earth. Divide into classroom teams
and debate the pros and cons of this impact. Would these be the same on Mars? What
are the factors you would want to be considered if Martians, for example, were to
come to your planet to establish a new community?
http://www-sn.jsc.nasa.gov/EXPLORE/explore.htm
The Reference Mission of the NASA Mars Exploration Study Team, 1997
Office of Technology Assessment: Science & Technology reports
