Teach Engineering
Are We Alone?
Find an answer to the age-old debate of whether life exists on Mars. Groups determine criteria to help look for signs of life on Mars. The activity has the class simulate testing Martian soil samples for signs of life before drawing...
Messenger Education
Mission: Possible—How Can We Plan an Exploration of Another World?
An astronaut's spacesuit weighs 280 pounds and takes 45 minutes to put on — that's a serious suit! The second activity of a three-part series allows pupils to see all that goes into space exploration. Through simulations, groups analyze...
Curated OER
Areology: The Study of Mars
Students use Oreo candy bars to explore how surface core samples call tell people about the history and make-up of Mars.
Curated OER
The First Manned Mission To Mars
High schoolers plan the first manned mission to Mars. They discuss, in small groups, some of the information that the group might have heard regarding the red planet and decide which types of occupations should be included in a crew for...
Curated OER
Studying Mars
Pupils study Mars and Odyssey's mission to Mars. In groups, they plan a community that could live on Mars.
Curated OER
Mars Curriculum
Middle schoolers study Mars and other plants in the night sky. In a planetarium setting using Digitarium planetarium system, students identify the Big Dipper and Polaris. They explore the major differences between the planets and the...
Curated OER
Mars Pathfinder
In this science worksheet, students read about the Mars Pathfinder. Students also answer 2 comprehension questions about the reading.
Curated OER
NASA's Mars gamble pays off
Students read an article about NASA and Mars and complete short answer questions about the article. In this Mars lesson plan, students also create a scale model of the solar system.
NASA
Earth, Can You Hear Me Now?
How long did you say? Class groups plot the distances between Earth and Mars and determine the trigonometric function that models the data. Using a calculator, they graph the function to determine when the distance and communication...
Teach Engineering
Red Rover Robotics
Help your class understand the importance of exploration using robots. with a resource that provides a short history of robotics as a lead into looking at Martian robotic exploration missions. The activity specifically looks at the...
Curated OER
A Mission-To-Mars Quiz
In this space exploration instructional activity, students complete a 6 question multiple choice on-line interactive exercise about the exploration of Mars.
Curated OER
Mars 500: Would You Go?
In this Mars instructional activity, students read a 7-paragraph article and respond to 8 graphic organizer, matching, and short answer questions. Vocabulary words and definitions are included.
Curated OER
Mission to Mars: The Journey Begins
Students take a trip through space. In this space science lesson, students travel on a simulated mission to a space station. Students write a script and perform a play based on the pretend trip.
Curated OER
Strange New Planet
Fourth graders gather data and simulate a Mars spacecraft mission using multi-sensory observations.
Curated OER
Interplanetary Travel Guide
In groups of six, middle school space scientists create an imaginative travel brochure for attracting visitors to the planet Mars. Information must include surface features and atmospheric conditions. Although time-consuming, this is a...
Curated OER
Marsquest
Students play a role as a travel guide to Mars, they are broken up into groups or different roles. In this exploratory lesson students play a role in helping travelers to Mars and create some kind of presentation, for example a...
Curated OER
I'm Gone
Students plan a mock mission to Mars. For this space science lesson, students work in cooperative groups and select one experiment to take on their mock mission. Students create a mission plan form and send a proposed experiment to NASA.
Curated OER
Become a Member of the Mission to Mars Team
Learners examine the various jobs of the Mars Mission Team, organize them into categories and write a formal application for a position on the Mars Mission. Entries are made into the logbook and on-line Field Journals read.
PHET
Planet Designer: Retro Planet Red
What does the atmosphere on Mars look like? This fourth lesson in the series of five is designed for high schoolers. Scholars apply previous knowledge to add atmosphere to Mars in an online simulation. This comprehensive lesson includes...
Curated OER
MARS Dead or Alive
Students describe the design and construction of the Mars Exploration Rovers (MERs). They imagine that they can visit Mars and think about what they want to find out about the planet. The review the solar system and discuss distances...
Curated OER
Destination Red Planet
Students explore reasons why people are interested in exploring other planets. After reading an article, they identify developments in the mission to Mars. Using the internet, they research the history of exploring Mars and create a...
Curated OER
Mars Mission Logbooks
Students design and create a logbook into which a variety of data is kept to document and assess their involvement in the Live From Mars module. Academic progress is tracked as materials are added to he portfolio.
Curated OER
Applying For The Mission
Students participate in a live simulation of traveling through space as part of a large science unit. They are encouraged to go into the community and ask for participation from parents and relatives. Students reflect upon their own...
University of Colorado
Is There Life on Earth?
To find life on another planet, scientists look for gases (atmosphere), water, and temperatures that are not extreme. In this activity, groups of pupils become "Titan-ians," scientists who want to explore Earth for possible life forms....