Course: Mission to Mars

This course is a gem for middle school science classes. It teaches students all about the Red Planet and its place in our Solar System. Maggie, our young host, reveals intriguing facts about orbits, the distance from Earth to Mars, the time it will take to travel from Earth to Mars, and how to calculate the amount of fuel needed for such a trip. Students experiment with electrolysis and learn how to use the natural resources of space to survive on Mars. In virtual science labs, they operate a rover and use a special membrane to make methane fuel for their return to Earth. This lesson engages students in science, math and writing exercises.

Video Excerpt:

Course Lesson Plan:

Each course segment contains a comprehensive video and quiz
or lab.

Introduction
Write Mars Rover Story
What Students Will Do
Mars, Solar System Facts
Mars Links
Distance Links
Measuring Distances
Distance Quiz
Making Fuel on Mars
Sabatier and Electrolysis Links
Electrolysis Process
Methane Production Quiz
What to take to Mars?
Write about Spaceflight
Accomplishments, Membranes
Membrane Lab
Membrane Quiz
Storing Carbon Dioxide
Freeze Lab
Carbon Dioxide Quiz
Fuel Mixture Link
Fuel Quiz
Mixing Gases
Collecting Samples Lab
Return to Earth
Fuel Up and Go
Write about SpaceClass

This course can help you meet the following National Science Education Standards:

The National Science Education Standards present a vision of a scientifically literate populace.
They outline what students need to know, understand and be able to do in order to be scientifically literate at different grade levels.

NSE Standards in this course:

Middle School:
As a result of their activities in grades 5-8...

Content Standard	...all students should develop:
A	Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry An understanding of scientific inquiry
B	An understanding of: Properties and changes of properties in matter Motions and forces Transfer of energy
D	An understanding of: Structure of the earth system Earth's history Earth in the solar system

Content Standard	...all students should develop:
E	Abilities of technological design Some understanding of science and technology
G	An understanding of: Science as a human endeavor Nature of science History of science

Getting Started: