Understanding the Mars Understanding the Mars Mission and soil studies by Mission and soil studies by

using the webusing the web

A Web projectA Web project

RationaleRationale

Scientists often need to get a better background to Scientists often need to get a better background to better understand the scientific investigation that better understand the scientific investigation that they are working on. With today’s they are working on. With today’s communication the internet is a wealth of communication the internet is a wealth of information on all different aspects of a given information on all different aspects of a given topic.topic.

This project is to broaden your understanding of This project is to broaden your understanding of the plethora of information that is available and the plethora of information that is available and to begin to be able to glean what you need for to begin to be able to glean what you need for what your study. what your study.

The MissionThe Mission

Each table group will get a website to investigate. Each table group will get a website to investigate. We will have about 45 minutes in the library. In We will have about 45 minutes in the library. In that time I would like your table to investigate that time I would like your table to investigate one of the seven sites (each table group will one of the seven sites (each table group will have a different site). Please split up the work have a different site). Please split up the work as there will be only minimal talking allowed in as there will be only minimal talking allowed in the library. Your mission will be to build a power the library. Your mission will be to build a power point that will introduce the webpage to the rest point that will introduce the webpage to the rest of the class. Use the following questions to of the class. Use the following questions to guide (but not limit) your investigation. The guide (but not limit) your investigation. The expectation will be that you have 5-6 slides. expectation will be that you have 5-6 slides.

Use the following to guide but not Use the following to guide but not limit your website investigationlimit your website investigation

1.1. What is the focus of your website? How is it What is the focus of your website? How is it relevant to our soil study?relevant to our soil study?

2.2. Describe 2 or 3 interesting and relevant Describe 2 or 3 interesting and relevant items/articles in your website, include picturesitems/articles in your website, include pictures

3.3. Who are some of the scientists named or Who are some of the scientists named or discussed on the site.discussed on the site.

4.4. What special features does your site have that What special features does your site have that would be interesting to use for your soils would be interesting to use for your soils report.report.

Feel free to link the site in your power point to Feel free to link the site in your power point to show us some of the interesting items.show us some of the interesting items.

Mars Websites Mars Websites

http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.eduhttp://phoenix.lpl.arizona.eduThe Phoenix Mars Mission official website The Phoenix Mars Mission official website http://mars.jpl.nasa.govhttp://mars.jpl.nasa.gov This site focuses on the exploration that is being conducted not only in orbit around Mars, but on the surface This site focuses on the exploration that is being conducted not only in orbit around Mars, but on the surface

as well, analyzing the composition of the soils on the surface. as well, analyzing the composition of the soils on the surface. Soil resources Soil resources http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/soil/http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/soil/Explore Explore soilsoil ecology, meet microscopic creatures, and journey underground in the virtual reality voyage of the ecology, meet microscopic creatures, and journey underground in the virtual reality voyage of the

Earthship. From the Discovery Channel school.Earthship. From the Discovery Channel school.http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/solar_systemhttp://www.jpl.nasa.gov/solar_system This site, through NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, This site, through NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, highlights missions that focus on exploration of the solar system. highlights missions that focus on exploration of the solar system. http://nai.arc.nasa.govhttp://nai.arc.nasa.govNASA Astrobiology Institute’s (NAI) website. NASA Astrobiology Institute’s (NAI) website. How does life begin How does life begin and evolve? Is there life elsewhere in the Universe? What is the future of life on Earth and beyond? NAI and evolve? Is there life elsewhere in the Universe? What is the future of life on Earth and beyond? NAI

carries out collaborative research and education in astrobiology, the carries out collaborative research and education in astrobiology, the Interdisciplinary science that seeks answers to these fundamental questions. It supports Interdisciplinary science that seeks answers to these fundamental questions. It supports investigation of these issues on Earth and serves as a portal to space for the scientific investigation of these issues on Earth and serves as a portal to space for the scientific community. community. http://astroventure.arc.nasa.govhttp://astroventure.arc.nasa.gov At this interactive site, students in grades 5-8 role-play NASA occupations as they search for and build a At this interactive site, students in grades 5-8 role-play NASA occupations as they search for and build a

planet for human habitation.planet for human habitation.Additional resources Additional resources http://www.marstoday.com/http://www.marstoday.com/This website contains links, images, and text from sources across the web that pertain to the planet This website contains links, images, and text from sources across the web that pertain to the planet MarsMars. .

The site is searchable, or can be browsed by categories such as The site is searchable, or can be browsed by categories such as MarsMars News, Planetary Facts, News, Planetary Facts, Exploration, Searching for Life, Moons, Meteorites, Missions, and Exploration, Searching for Life, Moons, Meteorites, Missions, and MarsMars in Fiction. Under each in Fiction. Under each category is a list of links for information and images.category is a list of links for information and images.

Other great resources to Other great resources to sitessites

http://www.dlese.org/library/index.jsphttp://www.dlese.org/library/index.jsp DLESE is the Digital Library for Earth System DLESE is the Digital Library for Earth System Education, a geoscience community resource that supports Education, a geoscience community resource that supports

teaching and learning about the Earth system. It is funded by the teaching and learning about the Earth system. It is funded by the National Science Foundation and is being built by a National Science Foundation and is being built by a

community of educators, students, and scientists to support Earth community of educators, students, and scientists to support Earth system education at all levels and in both formal and informal system education at all levels and in both formal and informal settings.settings.

••http://visibleearth.nasa.govhttp://visibleearth.nasa.gov This is a collection of images and animations of Earth. It has a This is a collection of images and animations of Earth. It has a searchable index that will allow you to find images and animations searchable index that will allow you to find images and animations

of specific topics, such as soils. of specific topics, such as soils.