KiwiMars Unit Classroom Activities and Resources

Geology

Under development: 

Collecting a suite of gravels to characterise geology outside the immediate area

This activity will also be available via our upcoming E-learning portal which is a project lead by our Mission Specialist in Planetary Sciences - Ali Harley. We estimate that the portal will go live during the World Space Week in October 2012.

[KiwiMars Unit Classroom Activities and Resources^KiwiMars Crew 118_Resource1 Geology.pdf]

Biology

Under development

Lichens

Lichens are common at MDRS.  In New Zealand any type of rocky ground – a cliff, coastal rocks, a hill top, a quarry, should have them. Photo documentation with scale, classifying by shape and form, and, for older students, maybe looking at relationship to aspect and basic statistical analysis.  A lichen expert is needed to help at both ends.

Lichens could teach about symbiosis, the importance of cooperation as well as competition in biology, and lead on to discussion of their role in weathering, their ability to survive harsh conditions, and their use as indicators of environmental factors.

Under development:

Fossils

There are millions of fossils on the top of hab ridge at MDRS. It might be a bit more difficult doing a fossil specific exercise as not all the students may live in areas with fossils in them. As, at MDRS, the fossils are all of one thing, an oyster (apart from the odd bone and piece fossil wood). Looking for fossils in the pebbles might be more profitable. Fine sponges, molluscs, algae, brachiopods, and bryozoa could be found in limestone and chert pebbles in the gravels. It will be more pot luck in NZ (too many igneous rocks and deep water sediments, but there are some), but this could be used to teach the importance of negative results in science.

Communication

Mission Patch design

According to NASA, for every space flight, the astronaut crew designs their own mission patch. Included in the patch design are various elements describing the different phases of that particular mission. Usually, in the design includes the names of the crew, the name of the space vehicle and its mission number. Crew 118 prepared a resource sheet about Mission Patches, in the hope that you will be designing your own mission patch whilst you will be interacting with us on Mars.

[KiwiMars Unit Classroom Activities and Resources^KiwiMars Crew 118_Resource2_Mission Patch.pdf]

Biosecurity

Under development:

The impact of human activity on ecosystems

There have been attempts to quantify the human impact at MDRS using basic measures of soil compaction, E. coli levels and soil pH, with equivocal results. The smectite soils seem to active to preserve compaction, pH has not changed much, and the environment is too harsh (dry, saline, hot, cold, UV) for E. coli to survive for any period of time. What other impact do people have on their ecosystem?  

Make a wish list for what organisms you want to take on Mars

Have you ever wondered what type of organisms would you take with you on a trip to Mars? Would you take a weed? What if the weed would have resistance genes that would help make better adapted plants for terraforming? What would you choose if you had been given the chance?

History and culture

Under development:
Students to research and create information on the topics below

1. Exploration - great explorers that came to New Zealand (ex. Captain Cook - links in with the Tranzit of Venus, Maui, Kupe, Tupaea)
2. Space Exploration - great New Zealanders who contributed to Space Exploration: Hall of Fame

Survey

Under development

LiDAR based mapping exercice

Astronomy

Under development:

Construction of a human solar dial in our backyard

For centuries humans measured time by looking at the stars and the Sun is one of them. Crew 98 RoMars built a Solar Human Dial at MDRS in 2011 that unfortunately was mistaken for rocks by other people. Now the brave Crew 118 is on a mission of reconstruction. They will create the first official solar garden that will guard the Astronomical Observatory on its new location. The commander of Crew 118 who is also the Astronomy Outreach Coordinator for MDRS considers this an honour that she was entrusted with by the MDRS Chief Astronomer Peter Detterline.

The solar day on Mars lasts 24 hours 39 minutes and 35 seconds and in time this can be a nuisance when synchronizing clocks with Earth. Also in the event that all batteries from the hab stop working, the commander can simply send one of the crew from time to time during the day to stand on the analemma at the center of the Solar dial and lift up their hands. The shadow cast on the ground will tell the commander what time it is. 

Beyond that, the students will learn about the equation of time (a fascinating concept), analemma, finding North or South by the stars, solar and sidereal days and will have the chance to practice constructing a solar dial in their own backyard whilst we are doing ours on 'Mars'.

Mission to Mars Class Project
From Matt Boucher, Karanui College: I hope that you are enjoying KiwiMars 2012, my class and I have really enjoyed following the mission. My class is now beginning to plan their own mission to Mars, and we hope to show you what we have come up with if you get a chance to visit us as some stage.  I have attached the assignment sheet that I have given my class.  If you like it, feel free to share it with others, modify it, or add it as an educational resource on the website.
[*Mars Project.pdf*|^Mars Project.pdf] (PDF)