Theme: Science and Sports on Mars
Title: “What is Mars Like This Time of
Year?”
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Overview: What is Mars like? Does the physical
geography of Mars make it suitable for life? How do
the conditions on Earth compare to Mars? These
and many other questions inevitably come up with the recent exploration of this
planet. The conditions at the surface are quite harsh compared to what we are
used to. In asking these questions, let’s look at one more: What would human
recreational activities be like on Mars? The Martian atmosphere would definitely
“change the playing field.”
Grade Level: 5-8
Subject Matter:
 Physical Geography
 Physical Science
 Biology (anatomy)
Duration: 2, 50-minute periods
National Standards Addressed:
Science as inquiry


Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
Understanding about scientific inquiry
Physical Science

Motion and forces
Life Science

Structure and function in living systems
Earth and Space Science

Earth in the solar system
Science and Technology

Understanding about science and technology
Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:


Identify the differences between Earth and Mars.
Correctly judge the outcome of human activities on Mars based on it
physical characteristics.
Materials:

Computers

Whiteboards

Whiteboard markers

Projector

Screen
 PowerPoint program
Procedure:
1. Hook
a. Show the students fictional face on Mars:
http://www.nextnature.net/research/wpcontent/uploads/2009/01/apr_mars_face_06921_ssv.jpg
i. Note: this face has been proven to be a hoax. Don’t reveal
this until after the class discussion.
ii. For information on this, check out the following site:
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mars_face_020725
.html
b. Play POP #2027 “Mars Microphone: Martian Landscape”
c. Class discussion: Based on what you have seen and heard, is
there life on Mars?
i. Include some details of the physical geography of Mars that
would or would not support life.
ii. Reveal the hoax and that all that we know is that life might
exist on Mars but only small microbes.
2. Earth vs. Mars
a. The students will explore the differences between Earth and Mars.
i. The students can work in pairs and share a computer.
ii. Pass out one worksheet (Earth vs. Mars) to each group.
iii. Instruct them to log on to:
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mars_tape_03081
9.html
iv. Go over the answers when they are finished. Then, show
them this slide show:
http://imaginemars.jpl.nasa.gov/info/discover_mars_01.html
b. Group Activity
i. The students will work in small groups to discuss several
“situations” on Mars.
ii. All questions are based on the geographical information that
was completed.
iii. All of their answers will be written on whiteboards and
presented to the class.
iv. Make a PowerPoint presentation using the following content:
1. Based on what you have seen and heard about Mars,
describe how cross-country runners would perform in
their sport.
2. The southern hemisphere of Mars is pretty rocky.
Describe how the sport of rock climbing would be on
Mars.
3. Could you fly a kite on Mars? Explain.
4. When you consider the differences in gravity which
would be better for a weight lifter: A) train on Earth
and compete on Mars or B) train on Mars and
compete on Earth? Explain your reasoning.
5. Think about the temperatures on Mars. Could
swimming be an Olympic event? Why or why not?
6. The game of golf is really affected by high winds.
How would Tiger Woods’s golf game be different on
Mars?
7. Usually a long road trip can affect athletes by
stiffening up their muscles and back etc. Describe the
effect a trip to Mars would have on athletes.
Handouts:
Earth vs. Mars
In this activity you will look into how Earth and Mars are alike and different. Log
on to: http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mars_tape_030819.html and fill
in the table below.
Diameter
around the
equator
Intelligent
Life
Temperature
Cosmic
Radiation
Weather
Length of
Day
Length of
Year
Gravity
Air
Volcanoes
Caves
Snow
Liquid Water
Water Ice
Earth
Mars
_________mi.
_________mi
Yes/No?
Yes/No?
Dry Ice
(frozen CO2)
Additional Resources
Web Sites
Kids Science Challenge – Scroll to Sports On Mars
http://www.kidsciencechallenge.com/html/sciencefair.php
Ask An Astronomer for Kids – Cool Cosmos
http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_kids/AskKids/index.shtml
How Mars Works – Howstuffworks.com
http://science.howstuffworks.com/mars8.htm
Mars Facts – Cornell University
http://athena.cornell.edu/mars_facts/index.html
Planet Mars Facts – NASA
http://imaginemars.jpl.nasa.gov/info/
Visions of Mars – National Geographic
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/geopedia/Mars#Visions%20of%20Mars%20
Photos
Name: Mars Earth Compare
URL: http://www-k12.atmos.washington.edu/k12/resources/mars_datainformation/mars_overview.html
Caption: Comparison of Earth and Mars.
Credit: NASA
Name: Mars Ice Cap
URL: http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2007/0921mars.shtml
Caption: The residual ice cap of Mars' south pole (in white) tops the smooth
layered deposits that overlie the cratered southern highlands. This image is a
shaded relief mosaic combined with color, using data from the Mars Orbiter
Laser Altimeter on the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft.
Credit: NASA/MOLA Science Team
Name: Mars Surface
URL: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040107.html
Caption: Rocks are strewn across the broad, flat Gusev crater floor in this sharp
color picture from NASA's Spirit rover. Recorded by the rover's panoramic
camera, the picture is part of Spirit's first color image of Mars - the highest
resolution picture yet taken on the surface of another planet.
Credit: NASA Jet Propulsion Lab
Special thanks to the following scientists for their help with this project:
Pulse of the Planet Programs: #2027: “Mars Microphone – Martian Landscape”
Greg Delory
Senior Fellow
UC Berkeley Space Science Lab
Pulse of the Planet Programs: #4635 “Kids' Science Challenge: Mars - Dirty
Chamber”
Suparna Mukherjee
Mechanical Engineer
NASA / Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Header Image
Name: Mars Face
Credit: NASA