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21st CENTURY EXPLORER
Are we there yet?
Why do astronauts eat tortillas instead of bread?
How would your body change in space?
How can we travel faster in space?
What will replace the Space Shuttle?
Why do robots travel places before people?
Why return to the Moon before going to Mars?
Why do we want to study and travel to Mars?
Where would a space explorer find water and oxygen?
What would you find on the Moon’s surface?
What would you hear in a weather report from Mars?
How will your imagination help you become an explorer?
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Why do we want to study and travel to Mars?

Books

Simon, Seymour: Destination: Mars. William Morrow & Company, Inc., 2000. ISBN: 0688157718 DK Publishing: Mars.

DK Publishing. Mars, DK Publishing, 2004. ISBN: 0756607663

Branley, Franklyn Mansfield: Mission To Mars. HarperCollins Publishers, 2002. ISBN: 0064452336

Schrarr, Anne: Are We Moving To Mars. Avalon Travel Publishing, 1996. ISBN: 1562613103

Skurzynski, Gloria: Discover Mars. National Geographic Society, 1998. ISBN: 0792270991

Gifford, Clive: How To Live On Mars. Scholastic Library Publishing, 2001. ISBN: 0531146472

Web Sites

NASA’s Mars Exploration
Explore Mars with cool games, activities, and special events. http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/funzone_flash.html

NASA’s Center for Mars Exploration
Learn many things about the Red Planet with picture galleries, landing site maps, movies, and science information.
http://cmex-www.arc.nasa.gov/CMEX/index.htm

Science at NASA – Divining Water On Mars
Investigate the evidence for water on Mars. http://www.thursdaysclassroom.com/index_22jun00.html

NASA’s Astro-Venture
Search for and design a habitable planet on this web site. http://astroventure.arc.nasa.gov
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Books, periodicals, pamphlets, and web sites may provide teachers and students with background information and extensions. Inclusion of a resource in this educator guide does not constitute an endorsement, either expressed or implied, by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
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NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS
National Science Education Standards (NSES)

Content Standard A: Science as Inquiry

  • Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry (K–8)
  • Understandings about scientific inquiry (K–8)

Content Standard B: Physical Science

  • Properties of objects and materials (K–4)

Content Standard C: Life Science

  • Organisms and their environment (K-4)
  • Populations and ecosystems (5-8)
  • Diversity and adaptations of organisms (5-8)

Content Standard D: Earth and Space Science

  • Properties of Earth materials (K-4)
  • Earth in the solar system (5-8)

Content Standard E: Science and Technology

  • Abilities of technological design (K-8)

Content Standard F: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives

  • Types of resources (K-4)
  • Changes in environment (K-4)

International Technology Education Association (ITEA)

Technology and Society

  • Standard 7: Students will develop an understanding of the influence of technology on history.

National Health Education Standards (NHES)

Health Education Standard 3: Students will demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and reduce health risks.

  • demonstrate strategies to improve or maintain personal health.

National Mathematics Education Standards (NCTM)

Representation

  • Create and use representations to organize, record, and communicate mathematical ideas
  • Select, apply, and translate among mathematical representations to solve problems

Communication:

  • Organize and consolidate their mathematical thinking through communication
  • Communicate their mathematical thinking coherently and clearly to peers, teachers, and others
  • Analyze and evaluate the mathematical thinking and strategies of others

U.S. National Geography Standards (NCGE)

  • Standard 14: How human actions modify the physical environment
  • Standard 15: How physical systems affect human systems
  • Standard 18: How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future.

National Language Arts Standards (NCTE)

  • Standard 1: Students read a wide range of print and non-print texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works.
  • Standard 4: Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
  • Standard 8: Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
  • Standard 12: Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).