"...To inspire the next generation of explorers, as only NASA can."
(from NASA’s Mission Statement)

Program Overview

During the months of May-July, over 500 students from Meadowbrook Middle School and from UCSD’s TRIO Outreach Programs will participate in Moon, Mars, and ISS (ISS=International Space Station). It was inspired by president Bush's vision for space exploration and was funded by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). In addition to gaining a fundamental understanding of space, the students will plan missions in which they will travel to and colonize the ISS, Moon, and Mars. Curriculum includes lectures, demonstrations and experiments, watching videos and DVDs, and independent e-learning. It is divided into to parts, Space Basics and Specialization.

Moon, Mars, and ISS culminates with multi-disciplinary exhibits at the San Diego Aerospace Museum and at the Escondido children’s Museum. It is our charter to develop a web-based educational resource that can be checked out of DLESE. In addition to the web-based modules, everything that will be generated, including the lectures, demonstrations and experiments, worksheets, etc. will be available through the web. After the conclusion of Moon, Mars, and ISS, materials will be updated and posted on DLESE.

Space Basics

In Space Basics the students will learn the fundamentals of space and space exploration. Topics covered include the solar system (sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets and their motion), the formation of the universe, different types of stars and their evolution, as well as different types of galaxies. Students will also learn about the history of space exploration and will be exposed to various issues pertaining to manned space missions. Curriculum satisfies 8th grade Standard 4 “Earth in the Solar System”. Students will also become familiar with the selected destinations, which include the ISS, Moon, and Mars. The destinations will be studied mainly from videos/DVDs, as excellent resources are available. All video/DVD-viewing will be accompanied with worksheets.

Specialization

In “Specialization” students research a technical area of their choosing. Specializations that will be offered include: (1) Transportation; (2) Terraforming; (3) Space Health; (4) Robots and Rovers; (5) Exploration; (6) Radiation; (7) Astro-biology; and (8) Commercial Opportunities. The specializations will be pursued via independent e-learning. E-learning uses the WebQuest approach. Each specialization will consist of 4 modules and each module will have its own assignments and resources.

Meadowbrook Implementation

The Meadowbrook implementation of ISS, Moon, and Mars will take place between May 18, 05 and June 17, 05. The entire 8th grade (460 students in 17 classes) will be participating. Moon, Mars, and ISS will be delivered by the three 8th grade Science teachers Barney Preston, Suzie Mills, and Paul Green. Instruction will take place over a period of 4 weeks and will consist of ten ninety-minute blocks. The first nine blocks will be divided into two activities, for a total of 18 activities. One block will be reserved for the final projects.  In the third block the students will divide into three groups, one group per destination. The three groups will rotate between activities. Starting from lesson 3 the students will also work in 4-student teams on their final projects. The Program will culminate with an exhibit of select student work at the San Diego Aerospace Museum.

TRIO Implementation

The TRIO Outreach Programs cater to high achieving students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Moon, Mars, and ISS will be delivered during a five-week residential summer camp that will take place between June 27, 05 and July 29, 05. The 10th grade students will be participating (~ 50 students). Moon, Mars, and ISS will cover the same material as at Meadowbrook, but there are a number of differences: (1) The materials will be adapted to more mature students; (2) There will be 3 times the instruction time (twenty 135 minute blocks) which will allow a significant number of additional activities; (3) There will be a couple of field trips (San Diego Aerospace Museum and General Atomics) as well as an activity in which students build and launch rockets. The rocket activity will be facilitated by the San Diego Aerospace Museum.  The Program will culminate with an exhibit of all student work at the Escondido Children’s Museum.

Moon, Mars & ISS was inspired by president Bush's vision for space exploration, which emphasizes searching for life outside of planet earth. This included both unmanned and manned missions, culmination with establishing human colonies outside of our planet. Moon, Mars, and Beyond was funded by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC).