Mrs. Renz's 4th Grade Class - JASON Mysteries of Earth & Mars

Mrs. Renz's 4th Grade Class Redmond, Oregon

JASON

Unit 1:

Physical

Science

Explores the physical properties of space science as well as the engineering challenges of robotic exploration. Topics:

	Properties & changes of properties in matter: properties of water
	Motions and Forces - Newton's Laws, gravity
	Transfer of Energy: Potential & kinetic energy
	Science & Technology: technological design

NASA - Mission to Mars

NASA - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

NASA - Landing Site Selection

NASA - Mars Exploration Rover Mission

Exploring Mars

Mars Quest Online

How Planets and Satellites are Named

Launch a Rocket from a Spinning "Planet"

Calorie Count

Strange Matter

Water Science for Schools

Energy Kids Page

JASON

Unit 2:

Earth & Space Science

Examines and comparative planetology, the geological features and processes on Earth and Mars. Topics:

Physical Geology: landforms, rocks, minerals, and soil

Geological processes: tectonics, volcanism, cratering, erosion, and measuring

Electromagnetism: waves, infrared radiation, and spectroscopy

Solar System: planets and meteors

Comparing the Surface of Earth and Mars

Look at Images of Mars

Look at Mars Meteorites

Comparing Earth and Mars

Meteors, Meteorites and Impacts

Guide to Martian Impact Craters

NASA - Mars Exploration Photos

NASA Kids - Infared Photo Album

All About Infared

NASA - Mars Exploration Rover Mission

Look at Relief Photos of the Moon

How Planets Got Their Names

Learn About the Electromagnetic Spectrum

Article About the Soil of Mars

Soil Science Education for Kids

The Color of Soil

The Dirt on Soil - Discovery School

Mars Unearthed

Learn About the Geology of Mars

Send a Rock Around the World - NASA

Search for Meteorites in Antarctica

Track of the Rainbow Serpent - exhibit about Australia's Wolfe Creek Crater

JASON

Unit 3:

Life Science

Examines requirements of life, astrobiology (the search for life throughout the solar system) and extremophiles (organisms adapted to extreme environments). Topics:

	Requirements for Life: energy, nutrients, water
	Living Systems: structure and function in living systems, cells, microbes
	Diversity & Adaptation of Organisms: extreme environments, extremophiles
	Earth's History: fossils, biosignatures

NASA - Astrobiology

Mars Academy - Can life exist on Mars?

NASA Mono Lake Research, CA

Extremeophiles - Microbiology - the Beginning

Life in Extreme Environments

Greenhouse One - Microbial Biology

Pond Life Identification Kit

Life at High Temperatures - Yellowstone

Cyanobacterial Research

NASA - 45 Years of History Movie

NASA - Mars Exploration Program

NASA - Life On Mars Videos

SETI Institute

NASA Microbial Mat Education

Mono Lake, California

Jack Farmer's Website - Arizona State University

Mars the Red Planet - from Enchanted Learning

Exploring Mars, the Red Planet

Mars Exploration Image Gallery

Mars Concept Maps

Mars Maps and Globes Gallery

Planet Ice - National Geographic - Images of Mars

How Mars Works

Mars History

Earth & Mars Comparisons

Watch a Video of a MER Landing - loads slowly but worth the wait!

Discovery of Mars

Information About Mars

Why Not Send People to Mars?

Mars Quest Online

Mars: Solar System Exploration

Exploring Mars

Visualize the Planet - GeoFusion GeoPlayer

Mars M2K4 - drive the rover, see images, trivia, multimedia & more! From NASA

How Mars Rovers Work

MER (Mars Expedition Rovers)

Mars Rover Info.- PBS

Olympus Mons Volcano photo & information

Mars, the Rusty Planet

Mars Polar Ice Cap Photo

Mars Demo

Lots of Photos of Mars

Multimedia Tour of the Planets

Mars Express

Welcome to the Planets - NASA

Visible Earth - animations and photos

Games & Fun from NASA

More Solar System Links

More Sites

What is Gravity? - NASA Kids

Launch a Rocket from a Spinning Planet - NASA Kids

How Gravity Works - Fire a Cannonball - NASA Kids

Seafloor Spreading Map

Galileo: Journey to Jupiter - NASA

Europa: Terrain in Turmoil

Galileo Activities K-12

Rover Ranch - Robotics

Robotics Education at NASA

Robotics in the Classroom

Teacher Stuff

Primarily JASON Curriculum

JASON

Novels

	Mars Year One (part of a trilogy) by Brad Strickland (Fiction)
	One Day in the Desert by Jean C. George (Fiction)
	Robot Visions
	War of the Worlds by H G Wells (Fiction Classic)
	Mystery of Mars by Sally Ride and Tam Shaughnessy (Nonfiction)

Primary grades:

A Mission to Mars by Franklyn Branley (Nonfiction)

JASON Educators:

	A Traveler's Guide to Mars by Wm. Hartmann (Nonfiction)
	The Real Mars forward by Jim Garvin (Nonfiction)

Preliminary Resource List:

	DK Eyewitness Mars (Nonfiction)
	America's Deserts (Nonfiction)

Olympus Mons, largest volcano in the solar system.	Gullies show evidence of water on Mars Images from NASA	Mars rover, Spirit
Mars topo map		Mars landscape

Mars background photo from NASA. Mars background Journals from NASA JPL