Activities from Teach the Earth for
Five Martian Mysteries That Have Scientists Scratching Their Heads

Did it Rain on Mars? Analysis of Valley Networks on Mars in an Intro Geo Course part of Discoveries from Mars:Activities
Students investigate the question of whether it might have rained on Mars by doing an activity based on an article by Hynek and Phillips (2003). Students do a simple drainage basin analysis based on Hynek and ...

Impact Craters and Water on Mars part of Starting Point-Teaching Entry Level Geoscience:Undergraduate Research:Examples
Students explore for water on Mars using impact crater morphology. During this lab, students: learn to use the equation writing and graphing capabilities in Microsoft Excel, thendevelop and apply an impact crater depth-diameter relationship in an effort to constrain the depth to a possible water-rich layer beneath one or more portions of the surface of Mars!

Geologic Mapping on Mars part of Discoveries from Mars:Activities
This lab acivity gives students the opportunity to choose an area to map (with tracing paper and coloured pencils) from among some varied Martian terrains. -

Mars Landing Site Analysis Lab part of GIS and Remote Sensing:Activities2
Brian Hynek, University of Colorado Summary Students use recent data acquired from Mars orbiters to assess the safety and scientific value of various proposed landing sites for a future Mars lander. Context Type ...

Estimating Discharge from Ares Vallis Using Pathfinder Images and MOLA Topography part of Discoveries from Mars:Activities
Students use Pathfinder lander images and MOLA topography, in combination with tools including a Hjulstrom diagram, ternary plot and a simple Manning equation, to estimate the discharge through Ares Vallis on Mars ...

Geomorphology: Were Earth-like river processes ever present on Mars? part of GIS and Remote Sensing:Activities2
Laurel Goodell, Summary Students compare rivers on Earth to channel-like features on Mars, and consider whether Earth-like river processes were ever present on Mars. Context Type and level of course Entry level ...

Observing Streams & Rivers in Google Earth part of Early Career:Previous Workshops:Workshop 2010:Teaching Activities
Students are asked to observe fluvial features on both Earth and Mars in satellite images via Google Earth (as well as online panoramas) and explore processes of erosion and deposition and the relationship of ...

Mars Hydrologic Environments part of Discoveries from Mars:Activities
This activity examines the nature of streams and basins at three locations on Mars. Originally meant for users with access to ArcGIS, the exercise can also be used in introductory geology courses using images ...

Relative Dating on Earth and Mars part of Introductory Courses:Activities
Students apply principles of relative dating to a cross-section, then to the surface of Mars.

Comparative Planetary Geomorphology part of Discoveries from Mars:Activities
This is a laboratory exercise to introduce comparative planetary geomorphology by investigating common geologic features on the Earth, Moon, and Mars. -

Using THEMIS Images of Mars Graben in a Structural Geology Course part of Discoveries from Mars:Activities
Students use Mars THEMIS images of normal faults to learn to recognize features of normal faults systems that are typically obscured on Earth by erosion and/or deposition and to calculate displacement and estimate ...

MER (Mars Exploration Rover ) Landing Site Selection part of Discoveries from Mars:Activities
Via a jigsaw role-playing exercise in which students become geologists, astrobiologists and engineers, real data and available constrains are used to identify landing sites for the MER rovers. A debate format is ...