GEMS: GREAT EXPLORATIONS IN MATH AND SCIENCE

	GEMS
	Lawrence Hall of Science
	University of California at Berkeley 
	Berkeley, California 94720
	(510) 642-7771
	

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OOBLECK - WHAT DO SCIENTISTS DO: (grades 4-8)

Themes:

Scientific Methods, Solids and Liquids, Properties, Space Probes.

Skills:

Recording Data, Experimenting, Engineering, Critical Discussion, Communicating, Group Brainstorming, Decision Making.

Mars Relevance:

Dealing with how scientists work, how Mars scientists would design a mission to determine properties of Mars such as the surface composition. Good project as a lead-in to Mars Pathfinder lander mission.

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EARTH, MOON, AND STARS: (grades 5-9)

Themes:

History of Astronomy, Spherical Earth, Gravity, Moon Phases, Eclipses, Measuring Time, The North Star, Earth's Daily Motion, Constellations, Horizon, Zenith.

Skills:

Creating/Using Models, Synthesizing, Visualizing, Observing, Explaining, Measuring Angles, Recording, Estimation, Averaging, Using Instruments, Drawing Conclusions, Using a Map.

Mars Relevance:

Determining the similarties and differences between Mars and Earth. Estimating the amount of time to travel to Mars, Moon, and back. Also predicting where a spacecraft will be at a certain time.

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CONVECTION - A CURRENT EVENT: (grades 6-9)

Themes:

Heat, Heat Transfer, Convection, Diffusion, Fluids, Wind, Ocean Currents.

Skills:

Observing, Recording, Making Inferences, Applying, Generalizing.

Mars Relevance:

Wind, heat tranfer, etc. are active processes in Martian weather.

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EXPERIMENTING WITH MODEL ROCKETS: (grades 6-10)

Themes:

Rocketry, Technology, Triangulation.

Skills:

Planning and Conducting Controlled Experiments, Measuring in Degrees and Meters, Graphing, Interpreting Data.

Mars Relevance:

Understanding how rockets work. Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Pathfinder will be launched on Delta II rockets in 1996.

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GLOBAL WARMING & THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT: (grades 7-10)

Themes:

Interdisciplinary Nature of Science, Controversy in Science, Science and Society, International Cooperation, Patterns of Change, Using Simulations and Models to Study Systems.

Concepts:

The Atmosphere, Visible and Infra-red Photons, Interaction of Heat, Light, and Matter, The Greenhouse Effect, Sources of Carbon Dioxide, Climate and Weather, Effects of Climate Change.

Skills:

Observing, Measuring, Recording Data, Interpreting Graphs, Experimenting, Drawing Conclusions, Synthesizing Information, Role-Playing, using Simulation Games, Problem Solving, Brainstorming Solutions, Critical Thinking.

Mars Relevance:

Mars' atmosphere is 95% Carbon Dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Is there a greenhouse effect on Mars? Venus? What are the implications of increased carbon dioxide on Earth? The Mars Global Surveyor TES instrument controlled at Arizona State University measures infrared radiation from Mars. This kit may also serve as an introduction to the infrared.

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SOLIDS, LIQUIDS, AND GASES:(grades 3-6)

Themes:

Solid, Liquid, Gas, Matter, Energy, Phase, Phase Change, Evaporation, Sublimation, Condensation, Atom.

Skills:

Observing, Comparing, Predicting, Visualizing, Relating, Modeling.

Mars Relevance:

Understanding Mars polar processes such as sublimation; pressure-temperature effects, and why liquid water cannot exist on Martian surface.