5e: [11-14] Terraforming

Lesson 2: Student Work Sheet 1a

What on earth is Terraforming?

Read the information sheet, ‘What on earth is terraforming?

Log on to http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/science/index.html or turn to the printed copy of this web page, entitled The Mars Exploration Program’s Science Theme.

Give an explanation here of what the Mars Exploration Program is, and its four science goals.

Complete this chart. You can use information from the information sheet, from the web-page, from the previous lesson, or use what you already know.

How is Mars similar to Earth?	How is Mars different from Earth?
1.	1.
2.	2.
3.	3.
4.	4.
5.	5.
6.	6.
7.	7.
8.	8.
9.	9.

Check your results with a partner, and discuss with them,

‘Which of the differences would have to be made into similarities

in order to terraform Mars?’

Group task: Can you think of how you might turn the red planet into the blue planet?

You now need to be in a group of three or four. Your teacher will give your group a large sheet of paper with a circle on it to represent Mars. You are NASA scientists: you know what has to be done to terraform Mars; your task now is to come up with ideas for how to do it.

Discuss your ideas and record them on the paper. You could write your ideas, or draw them.

Look back to the information sheet to start you off.

Extension

Log on to http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/technology/index.html entitled, ‘Technologies that enable Mars Exploration’.
Read the section, ‘Life detectors; new approaches for finding life.’

Debate with your group or class the question:

‘If life of any kind were to be found on Mars, would this stop

humans from developing the planet? Should it?

Dictionary of terms

Atmosphere – a protective layer of gases surrounding a planet

Cryosphere - ice on the planet’s surface

Hydrosphere – water on or under the planet’s surface

Lithosphere – the rocky crust (surface) of the planet

NASA – North American Space Agency

back to lesson plan