Teacher Resources
GEMS, Lawrence Hall of Science University of California at Berkeley Berkeley, California 94720 (510) 642-7771
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.
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.
Themes: Rocketry, Technology, Triangulation.
Skills: Planning, Conducting Controlled Experiments, Measuring in Degrees, 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.
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.
Themes: Systems and Interactions, Stability, Models and Simulations, Patterns of Change, Energy, Scale, Structure.
Skills: Creating/Using Models, Synthesizing, Visulizing, Observing, Explaining, Recording, Measuring, Using a Map, Evaluating Evidence, Inferring, Drawing Conclusions, Creative Designing.
Mars Relevance: Planetary science project, relevant to Galileo which will reach Jupiter in December 1995.