This lesson plan details an activity designed to put students in the role of scientists in analyzing the geological processes that occur on terrestrial planets - i.e. Earth and Mars. Students will use images from NASA?s Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) camera onboard the Mars Odyssey spacecraft to evaluate the geologic history and present conditions on Mars. This activity will enable students ... Full description.

In this hands-on activity, students explore the relationship between angular size, actual size, and distance by using their finger, thumb and fist as a unit of angular measurement. Full description.

This activity introduces students to planetary research. Students learn to focus on details by studying and writing descriptions of uncaptioned images of the Solar System. They then increase their knowledge of the planets and their features by comparing their descriptions to those of real researchers. Students organize their findings to infer a key difference between inner and outer planets. Full description.

In this product, students engage in processes/activities for collaboration and communication strategies. Students compare risks of courses of action confronting NASA's Deep Impact mission team. They investigate information necessary to support arguments, quantitative risk analyses, debate, role play, persuasive writing/communication skills and group decision making procedures. This activity has been ... Full description.