MARS
How much do you really know about Mars? Visit these websites and do
these activities to learn some amazing things about Mars! You will
learn what the surface of Mars looks like, how Mars and Earth and alike
and different, and many other things!
GPS
Websites
Activity One
Activity Two
Activity Three
Software Reviews
Fourth Grade
1. What does the surface of Mars look
like?
2.
PLO: The students will research what the surface of Mars looks like and
build their own Mars from Styrofoam and other materials.
3. Materials:
Computer with Internet
Website: Mars Tour
Large Styrofoam balls
Small rocks
Paint
Sand
Glue
Other various materials that may help create the surface of Mars.
4.
Procedures
Prior to visiting the website, discuss
with the students what they think the surface of Mars looks like. The
students will go to the website and explore the different pictures of
Mars and its surface. Many students may not know anything about Mars
yet, and one thing that will fascinate them is how its surface looks.
Circulate the room and discuss with the students what they think the
surface looks like and what they see in the picture. The website is
full of Rover Images so the students can see up close what Mars really
looks like.
5. Product:
After
the students have a good idea of how the surface of Mars looks, they
will create their own Mars our of Styrofoam balls and various
materials. The students' models should somewhat resemble the rough,
rocky, and cratered surface of Mars. The students will paint the
Styrofoam ball to resemble the color of Mars, and then add sand, rocks,
and maybe other materials. The students may also want to make
indentions or cut out pieces of the ball to resemble craters on the
surface.
Activity Two
1.
How are Earth and Mars alike and different?
2.
PLO : The students will explore the website and find facts about Mars
and Earth and tell how they are alike and different.
3.
Materials:
Computer with Internet
Website: Space Topic
Paper
Pencils
markers/Crayons
4. Procedures:
Students will go to
the website and read about how Mars and Earth are alike and different.
The link will take them straight to the page they need to read on. The
students should take notes on paper while they are reading about how
Earth and Mars are both alike and both different. The teacher may need
to help students with difficult words. The teacher should circulate to
check for understanding. After students have written notes, the teacher
will explain how to make a simple chart. One side of the chart will be
"How Mars and Earth are Alike" and the other will be "How Mars and
Earth are different".
5. Product:
After gathering information about Mars and earth, the students will
make a chart that lists the likes and differences between Mars and
Earth. After the students have listed facts in the chart, they will
draw a picture of Earth and a picture of Mars to illustrate their likes
and differences.
Activity Three
1.
Surviving on Mars!
2.
PLO -The students will explore the website and discover what Mars is
like and discuss various objects they would need to take to Mars to be
able to survive.
3. Materials:
Computer with Internet
Website: Sticky
Situation
Paper
Pencils
Poster board
Markers
4. Procedures:
Discuss
that everything we have on Earth isn't on Mars. Tell the students that
they would need to take stuff to Mars if they were going to survive on
it. Have the students visit the website to learn some different things
they would need to take to survive on Mars. They should take notes.
Encourage the students to use their imagination and be creative.
5.
Product:
The students will work in
groups of three-four. Have the students discuss with their group
members what they think they would need to take to survive on Mars.
Have the students either write or draw, on the poster board, the items
they would need to take with them. After each group is finished, have
the groups present their poster board with the class and tell why they
would need the items they chose.
Software Reviews
Power Point
Published by: Microsoft
After the students have
completed activities and have knowledge of several different aspects of
Mars, they could create a power point to share their knowledge. Power
Point is not difficult to use and it allows students to put words,
pictures, and animations together to create a nice presentation.
Students could include all different types of information about
Mars. Some of the features with this program are difficult to
master, but students could easily create a basic power point
presentation.
Microsoft Word
P
Published by: Microsoft
Instead of having students hand-write their reports, they could use a
computer and Microsoft Word to type their reports! After the students
have taken notes on Mars and are knowledgeable about Mars, they could
write a paper discussing different information about Mars. This program
is very easy to use! The students can choose different fonts, font
sizes, colors, and even insert pictures into a document. This is a
great program for children to learn or practice typing and better
their computer skills.
