Red Rocks
Initial Publication Date: March 24, 2020
Summary
Why is Mars red? Take a virtual field trip to Karijini Gorge in Australia and Oak Creek Canyon in Sedona, AZ and search for clues to the environments that formed the red rocks there. Observe the rock formations at a variety of scales, gather clues and examine samples in an ASU virtual lab before traveling to Mars to examine several of the rover landing sites and draw conclusions about what makes Mars red. Topics include oxidation, sedimentation, compaction, and cementation.
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Audience
This is aligned with high school science standards but could be used from middle school through early college.
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Skills and concepts that students must have mastered
Students should have some basic knowledge of the periodic table, chemical bonds, compound naming conventions, rock types and their formation, making observations, and the claim, evidence, reasoning cycle.
How the activity is situated in the course
This is designed to be a stand-alone activity to be used after students have some basic knowledge of geology and chemistry.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity
Learning Outcome #1: Collect geologic evidence (make observations) at a variety of scales in present day Karijini Gorge, Oak Creek Canyon, and Mars as a basis for interpretation of their present and past environments.
Learning Outcome #2: Generate the list of evidence needed to support a hypothesis as to why Mars is red (oxidized) and explain the importance for collecting this evidence on the macro to micro scale.
Learning Outcome #2: Generate the list of evidence needed to support a hypothesis as to why Mars is red (oxidized) and explain the importance for collecting this evidence on the macro to micro scale.
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
Learners interpret evidence in the rocks of Mars at a variety of scales to explain the presence of iron oxide and what it tells us about water in the ancient/present Martian environment.
Other skills goals for this activity
Making observations, providing evidence to support reasoning.
Description and Teaching Materials
This activity, along with lesson plans, NGSS alignment documents, and student worksheets can be accessed at Infiniscope.org. Infiniscope is a NASA-funded project out of the Center for Education Through eXploration at Arizona State University. They build adaptive digital learning experiences for K-12 education that engage learners in virtual environments and bring Earth and space science to life.
Teaching Notes and Tips
In order to save progress, teachers can create a free account and enroll their students.
The educator resources on Infiniscope.org include teacher tips, misconception alerts, and suggestions for implementation.
The educator resources on Infiniscope.org include teacher tips, misconception alerts, and suggestions for implementation.
Assessment
Assessments are embedded in the digital learning experience and the provided worksheets (keys included). To access digital assessments, teachers would need to create a free account and enroll their students prior to starting the experience.
References and Resources
https://community.infiniscope.org/
Infiniscope members have access to a community where they can ask questions and get support on implementation.
Infiniscope members have access to a community where they can ask questions and get support on implementation.