COULD HUMANS LIVE IN SPACE?
Research into Space Exploration and Habitability
WEEK FOUR
Week four focuses on students’ work for their final performance task about living on Mars and the habitat prototypes they are creating to answer the final question on why the government should invest in their design. After the completion of their work, a showcase will be held to present their work, with the hopes of inviting experts into the class to give their input.
Activity 1 & 3
Objective 1: Students will engage in problem solving through planning, creating, appraising, and communicating in response to habitability challenges.
Objective 2: Students will assume a variety of roles and shared responsibilities as a group member to contribute to group knowledge and application.
Objective 3: Students will recognize that the other eight known planets, which revolve around the sun, have characteristics and surface conditions that are different from Earth; and identify examples of those differences.
Objective 4: Students will design habitat objects that are evaluated on the basis of function and attractiveness.
Objective 5: Students will organize and develop ideas and information into oral, print, or other media texts with introductions that interest audiences and state the topic, sections that develop the topic and conclusions.
Activity 2
Objective 6: Students will learn about possible career options for those interested and passionate about sky science and problem solving.
The following materials and resources will need to be available:
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Materials needed for creation of habitats (iPads, laptops, game software, craft materials)
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An expert in the field of space exploration or government to guest lecture and be a part of the showcase
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A space for the showcase
Step 4 - Mini lesson on proper structure and formatting of their writing, this includes an introduction, well organized content, and finally a summative conclusion.
Step 5 - Once their proposal has been approved students may begin to work on their written explanation/justification of their habitat based on their prototype design. This can be in any presentation form, such as powerpoint, poster, video, etc.
Step 6 - Once students have completed their written explanation/justification students may begin to work on their prototype. This prototype may be a digital rendering or physical construction depending on students interests and abilities.
Formative Feedback - Discussion with students
Informal Observation
ASSESSMENT
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
Science 6-2 and 6-7.9
ELA 1.1, 2.4, 3.3, 4.3 and 5.2
CTF Learning Outcome 2
Art Level 3 Component 2 B,C
CONTINUE MARS HABITABILITY PROJECT
Someone in the field of astronomy would be invited into the classroom to give a guest lecture. Students would be given the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the lecture. This guest speaker would be invited to attend the showcase to provide authentic feedback to students.
Exit Slip
ASSESSMENT
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
Science 6-4
ELA 1.1
GUEST LECTURER
Students can invite family, friends, and other classes to view their habitats and explanations. This is an opportunity for students to circulate, view, and ask questions about their peers work. Students will then fill out a reflection based on the project.
Click here for an example of the Mars Habitability Project. Click here for rubrics.
Self Assessment - Prototype will be self assessed on a broken rubric
Summative Assessment - Rubric to evaluate Mars Habitability project as a whole
ASSESSMENT
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
Science 6-4
ELA 4.3
CTF Learning Outcome 2
Art Level 3 Component 2 B,C