NASA Glenn Videoconference: Exploring Mars
Pre-Conference Activity: If so instructed by your teacher, print out a worksheet page for these problems.

Background Information:

 When NASA space scientists want to examine the surfaces of planets that are very far away, they often have satellites take photos. They can then study these photos to learn about the planets' surfaces. The scientists make comparisons with similar features or events on Earth; they study the phenomenon on Earth and apply what they know to other planets. Scientists also often create diagrams or illustrations to help them understand what they are studying. This is one type of model.

In this activity you will compare images of craters on Mars with images on Earth. You will then create a picture model of how you think the craters on Mars were created.

You should be familiar with the following terms:

Crater-a depression formed by the impact of a meteorite.
Impactor - an object that upon impact causes a crater to be formed.
Ejecta - material thrown out (as in the formation of a crater).
Rim - the outer, often circular, edge or border of something.

Procedure:

1. Examine the Mars Surface images given below, paying close attention to the craters.

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/expmars/activities/channel0.gif
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/expmars/activities/channel1.gif

2. Note your observations, findings, and ideas on your observations in each photograph.


3. Document your scientific explanation of how you think the Mars craters were formed.


4. Document the evidence you used to come up with your scientific explanation.

Rubric for Steps 1-4 (3 possible points)

Student recorded notes regarding the surface of Mars.

___ Yes (1)

___ No (0)

Student formulated a possible scientific explanation.

___ Yes (1)

___ No (0)

Student cited evidence to support scientific explanation.

___ Yes (1)

___ No (0)

___ Total Points

5. Examine the Earth Surface images given below and compare them to the Mars images.

http://www.solarviews.com/cap/moon/farside.htm
http://www.meteorcrater.com
http://www.barringercrater.com/img/crater.jpg
http://solarviews.com/cap/moon/clmsouth.htm
http://solarviews.com/eng/tercrate.htm

6. Note your observations, findings, and ideas on what you observe in each photograph.


7. Create a series of illustrations to represent the process of how you believe the craters were formed on the Earth and on Mars.


8. What kind of model did you use?


9. Review your scientific explanations from your first observations and make revisions based on your comparisons of the surfaces of the Earth and Mars. Did your explanation change?


10. Document the evidence for your revised scientific explanation. What caused you to change your explanation?

 Rubric for Steps 5-10 (8 possible points):

Student recorded notes comparing Earth and Mars features

___ Yes (1)

___ No (0)

Student completed illustration/diagram

___ Yes (1)

___ No (0)

Student correctly identified model type

___ Yes (1)

___ No (0)

Student revised explanation or restated original explanation

___ Yes (1)

___ No (0)

Student cited evidence to support original or new explanation

___ Yes (1)

___ No (0)

Student identifies and explains changes to explanation.

___ Yes (1)

___ No (0)

___ Yes or explanation did not change (2)

___ Identified, but did not explain (1)

___ Changes not identified or explained (0)

___ Total Points

11. You are now ready to participate in the "Exploring Mars" videoconference.


Videoconference Description and Introduction
Pre-conference assessment
Pre-conference activity worksheet
Post-conference activity and worksheet
Post-conference assessment

Please send any comments to:
Web site related: Curator
Content related: Joe Kolecki (Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov)