SCIENCE / ELA Grades 3-5 Journey to the Red Planet Driving Question How can humans safely explore Mars? Project Description In this interdisciplinary project, students explore the history of space travel and the science of Mars exploration. Student teams use engineering design processes, as well as content knowledge about historical space exploration, conditions on Mars, and the scale of the universe, to identify problems related to Mars exploration and develop inventions that help to solve those problems. Final Product(s) Students develop and present (to a mock group of investors or inventors, or to actual aerospace engineers) prototypes for an invention that will help humans to safely explore Mars. Key Standards* Next Generation Science Standards • 3-5-ETS1-1: Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost. • 3-5-ETS1-2: Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. • 4-LS1-1: Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction. Common Core State Standards - ELA - LITERACY • W.5.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. • SL.5.4: Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace. • RI.5.9: Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably. *Grade-specific standards are listed, but this project could be adapted to other grade levels See more Project Idea Cards at my.PBLWorks.org SCIENCE / ELA Bringing This Project To Life Use these questions to consider how you might make this project authentic and meaningful for all of your students. Consider Your Students • What might students already know about space exploration and conditions on Mars? How will you connect to, build on, and close gaps in students’ background knowledge about this topic? • How will you help students see themselves reflected in this project? Can you showcase astronauts and space scientists from diverse backgrounds? How might you help students imagine a Mars colony that is inclusive of a range of voices and identities? Consider the Context • What materials will students need to create their prototypes? How will you obtain these materials? • How can you help students connect with industry professionals throughout this project? (Consider virtual resources and experts from NASA as well as local colleges, universities, or museums.) Consider the Content and Skills • How will you scaffold and support the engineering design process for students throughout this project? • What texts and activities might help to build students’ background knowledge about space exploration, Mars, and engineering design? How can you use those texts to support students’ content knowledge and literacy skills? Special thanks to Angela Marzilli for contributing to ideation for this project.
