Here are lesson plans,
PowerPoints and other materials that go along with the web-GIS lessons.
These lessons are standards-based. (See the Introduction
for the listing of the specific standards.) The lesson plans are
inquiry-based and target grades 8-10 but can be expanded to grade 14.
The lessons introduce the basic geologic concepts necessary to be able
to understand run-off and sapping and to be able to use this knowledge
to evaluate whether their section of Mars is typical of run-off (rain
likely) or sapping (rain unlikely).
The modules include embedded tutorials but an overall tutorial may be
found here or by clicking the tutorial main
menu item.
Module 1: This lesson serves
as the introduction to the MARS EPO project. The goal of the MARS EPO
project is to promote inquiry-based learning to analyze actual NASA
data in a web-GIS program to answer the question, “Did it rain on
Mars?” The Martian surface is covered by numerous valley networks
that could have been formed by either (a) groundwater sapping or (b)
surface run-off. This lesson is designed to introduce the
concepts of groundwater sapping and surface run-off to the students
through the use of a stream table. The second day of this lesson
also provides students the opportunity to begin working with the
web-GIS website to identify amphitheater heads, a major characteristic
of groundwater sapping.
Module 2: This lesson
introduces Mars as a planet to the students. During the course of the
lesson the students will list the main similarities and
differences between the planets Earth and Mars, hypothesize on why Mars
is called the Red Planet and what that has to do with whether it ever
rained on Mars and use the web-GIS software to begin to answer the
question whether it ever rained on Mars.
Module 3: As students begin to investigate the Martian
surface, they will see that numerous channels cover it. In this
lesson, students will first learn how to identity different stream
drainage patterns in map view through the use of a worksheet and a
PowerPoint presentation. Students will then, through the use of the
PowerPoint presentation and a sample problem, gain understanding of
drainage basins and drainage density. They will practice by determining
the drainage density of two simplified drainage systems on paper
followed by using the web-GIS software on their sections.
Module 4: As students learn
about the many types of geological landform features, such as hills,
mountains, valleys and watershed drainage basins, it is important that
they have some understanding of hypsometric curves and circularity
functions and why they are useful to geoscientists. The students will
use potato models, produce hypsometric curves and circularity graphs
and determine whether the drainage basin represented by the carved
potatoes are more consistent with run-off or sapping. They will apply
this knowledge to the actual Martian database and determine whether the
watersheds in their assigned area are more likely due to run-off or
sapping processes.
Final Report: This is the
form the students fill out at the end of their analysis. This is where
they document their discoveries and make their argument as to whether
they believed it has ever rained on Mars. The final reports of all
sections will be downloadable for all participating groups.
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