Teaching Critical Thinking Strategies in the Classroom

through Aesthetic Experiences: Mars Mission

By Andrea Shogren

Designer Topic Focus

✲Students will design a Manned-Mission to Mars and will choose two forms of art (dance, music, drama, multi-media) to show their plan to the class as a News Broadcast

Objectives

✲ Determine a specific task to answer research questions online (Team Leader, Spacecraft Designer, Habitat Designer, Bioscientist)

✲ Write a description of the role and qualification of each crew member

✲ Type a one page mission proposal on their specific task✲ Draw a map/diagram of their specific task✲ Create a News broadcast using two forms of art which may

include:✲ PowerPoint✲ Visuals (charts, graphs, posters, etc)✲ Objects (i.e. models)✲ Role play or skits✲ Songs, stories, artwork

Graphic Organizer

NAME:Andrea Shogren

MANNED MISSION TO

MARS

Students get in groups of four and decide who is going to be Team Leader, Space Craft Designer, Habitat Designer, and Bioscientist

Complete research questions online on individual role and look at Museum pictures online for ideas

Complete a one-page typed paper from research questions about your plan

Draw each design on plain paper (Team Leader-Landing Spot, Space Craft Designer-Space Craft, Habitat Designer-Habitat, Bioscientist-Mars Suit)

Decide what art media is going to be used in News Broadcast (dance, music, drama, visual arts)

Complete News Broadcast to the class and watch other groups

Create material and practice News Broadcast

Complete rubric and team members participation on the entire project

Resources

✲ Online Art Collection✲ http://www.artsconnected.org/resource/102798/shogren-mars-mission

✲ Online Searches✲ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploration_of_Mars✲ http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/missions/mars_odyssey_sr.html✲ http://athena.cornell.edu/kids/✲ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.

gov/planetary/mars/mars_crew.html✲ http://www.exploremarsnow.org/

News Broadcast Assignment for Students

✲ Your team will be announcing your final mission plans to the world (class). You and your team must decide what is most important for the public to know about your mission. Each one of the team members should have highlights of their research as well as the important research you did as a team.

✲ Your newscast should be exciting and creative. Remember, this is the FIRST time humans have journeyed to Mars! You will want to use different types of communication tools (at least 2). Consider using things that you have already developed during your preparation. Some examples are:

✲ ｷ PowerPoint✲ ｷ Visuals (charts, graphs, posters, etc)✲ ｷ Objects (i.e. models)✲ ｷ Role play or skits✲ ｷ Songs, stories, artwork

✲ If you need any materials or equipment, see the mission supervisor (teacher). Use your imagination. Make sure you integrate things that you have learned

during your preparation.

Rubric

Little use of creativity in answering

question to the task.

Some use of creativity to

answering some of the tasks.

Adequate use of creativity applied to answering all

tasks.

Excellent use of creativity and imagination to answering all

tasks.

Broadcast- Creativity

The performance was bland and did

not keep the viewers’ attention.

The performance was lacking in

terms of enthusiasm and captivation, but reflected some

effort.

The performance was clear, and for the most part kept

the viewers attuned.

The performance was clever, easy to follow, and interesting to

view.

Broadcast- Performance

The news broadcast was

unorganized and did not reflect

ample planning and effort.

The news broadcast was scattered and

addressed only some of the issues

needed to complete the task.

The news broadcast was

organized, but did not address all of

the tasks.

The broadcast was organized,

clear, and included all tasks involved in the

mission.

Broadcast-Planning and Organization

1234

Reflection

✲ The News Broadcast was a great enhancement to the Mars Mission Project. The students were able to demonstrate their ideas while using critical thinking, design, creativity, art and teamwork skills. We had everything from lego models, skits, singing, musical instruments, dancing, poems, and poster boards. My classroom was very chaotic at times, but students were engaged, having fun, and learning at the same time. I will be doing this same project next year!