Unit 6.2: Identifying Patterns and Exploring Beyond our Planet for Resources

Angela Daneshmand, Santiago Canyon College

Initial Publication Date: September 20, 2024

Summary

Are there resources on other planets that humans can access? Using Hi-RISE maps, students identify landforms on Mars and make a claim based on the data and features about where 3 additional resources may be (supported by evidence). Students learn how scientists confirm resources are in the particular areas and ruminate about what kinds of adaptations instrumentation would need to have in order to be successful on different planets. This unit sets the foundation for decision-making during future exploratory missions.

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Learning Objectives

At the end of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Use evidence of known geological processes on Earth to deduce similar processes on other planets
  2. Construct an argument based on evidence to make a claim about where additional resources may be located on other planets
  3. Model Earth processes to make predictions about and/or connections with Earth and/or planetary systems

Context for Use

This is an introductory unit intended to come after Unit 6.1. Students use information from Unit 6.1 to identify features on an unknown planet, create an explanation based on evidence about how the feature formed, and make a claim about where additional resources may be. Students will gain insight on details that go into leading a mission to a different planet which they will use as a foundation for Units 6.3 and 6.4.

Target Audience:

This unit is intended for students in undergraduate level Earth science courses, including entry-level courses designed for future educators.

Time Needed:

The activities in Unit 6.2 are designed to take place over the course of one 85-minute class session and can be administered in face-to-face, synchronous, or asynchronous classes.

Prerequisite Skills Needed:

Units 1-5 should be completed before attempting Unit 6.2. If this is not possible, it is recommended that students have basic knowledge of Earth processes and be able to analyze and interpret data. Basic astronomical terms and foundational concepts from Unit 6.1 and Earth resource concepts from Unit 3 are needed to complete this unit.

Description and Teaching Materials

Teaching Materials:

  • The Pre-Class Homework will guide students in making comparisons between Earth and other celestial objects. Students will read a minimum of three short articles on various celestial objects to gain insight into where resources may be and which remote sensing techniques would be best used to explore this area. Additionally, this assignment allows instructors to gauge individual student's ability to analyze data sets and come to conclusions. Similar to Uncovering Planet X, students will now encounter Planet Y. They need to identify surficial features of this new planet and construct an argument explaining how these features formed.
  • This slide set serves as a guide through 6.2. Breakout session slides (slides 11-16) should be printed for each group (or accessed online if computers are available in the classroom). If using the slides online, the instructor should create a separate slide set for each group to access and work on.
    • Unit 6.2 Slide Set (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 1.4MB Jan19 24)

85-minute Class Session Overview:

  • Small group discussion (10 minutes): Students compare their identified processes from the pre-work with others in their group. Answers are revealed.
  • Breakout Session #1(40 minutes): The Return of Planet Y. Students locate similar features they identified in the pre-work for Planet Y on the map provided (Hi-RISE Browse Map). They make a claim based on the data and features about where 3 additional resources may be (supported by evidence) and prepare Gallery Walk poster slides for presentation. Groups will brainstorm what is the best way for scientists to confirm resources are in the area they have selected. 
  • Planet Y Presentation (10 minutes): Groups share their data interpretations, reasoning, and answer the question: What would be the best way for scientists to confirm resources are in the areas you have selected?
  • NASA Videos (10 minutes). Students gain insight into the complexities of designing a rover to explore Mars. Students use this information to guide their teams in generating questions for potential missions, and designing their own rover.
  • Break Out #2: Exploring Mars, The Basics. Students answer the following questions in their small groups (15 minutes):
    1. What are the key elements that your team needs to think about when it comes to landing on Mars? Be specific.
    2. Since these videos are based on exploring Mars, what factors may your team need to consider for other planets such as Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, or Uranus? Factors could be the same as in the videos or different. List at least three for each planet.
    3. Come up with one question that you have about each planet (that can be answered by a future mission) and write it on a post-it. The instructor needs to save these post-its for Unit 6.3 and 6.4. Students will use these questions as a starting point when writing their mission goals. 

Teaching Notes and Tips

For all modalities, instructors are encouraged to transfer the PowerPoint slides into Google Slides for classroom and student use.

Face-to-Face Courses:

  • If you do not have a class set of computers (or at least one computer for each group), it would be best to print the in-class group work slides (slides 11-16) and readings for each student group.

Synchronous Online Courses:

  • Students can access Google Slides to complete during a video conferencing session (e.g., Zoom) in breakout rooms. It is best for each group to have its own slide set. The instructor is advised to set these up before class starts. See Unit 4.1 teaching tips for an example of this.

Asynchronous Online Courses:

  • Students need to be linked to data given in Breakout Session #1 in advance. The instructor should consider using a video discussion board such as Padlet or similar for students to present their information and ideas for Breakout Sessions 1 and 2 to the class.

Background Information Resources:


Assessment

Formative Assessment:

  • Informal Presentation

Summative Assessment:

  • Unit 6.2 Pre Work
  • Quiz on Main Topics, including things such as:
    • Identifying various surficial features on a map
    • Inferring resources based on landform and geologic processes
    • Constraints for landing a rover on Mars

References and Resources

Agle, DC. "NASA's Perseverance Rover Investigates Intriguing Martian Bedrock." NASA, NASA, 29 Sept. 2023, https://www.nasa.gov/missions/mars-2020-perseverance/perseverance-rover/nasas-perseverance-rover-investigates-intriguing-martian-bedrock/

Agle, DC. "Salts and Organics Observed on Ganymede's Surface by NASA's Juno." NASA, NASA, 30 Oct. 2023, https://www.nasa.gov/missions/juno/salts-and-organics-observed-on-ganymedes-surface-by-nasas-juno/

Andreoli, Claire. "Hubble Sees Summertime on Saturn - NASA Science." NASA, NASA, 23 July 2020, https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/hubble-sees-summertime-on-saturn/

"Challenges of Getting to Mars: Selecting a Landing Site – NASA Mars Exploration." NASA Science Mars Exploration Program, NASA, 18 May 2011, https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/20020/challenges-of-getting-to-mars-selecting-a-landing-site/

Colizzi, Michelle. "#ASKNASA┃ How Do You Build a Mars Rover?" YouTube, Ask NASA, 27 July 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNlAFzG44ko

Good, Andrew. "NASA Explores a Winter Wonderland on Mars." NASA, NASA, 29 Sept. 2023, www.nasa.gov/missions/mars-reconnaissance-orbiter/nasa-explores-a-winter-wonderland-on-mars/

Good, Andrew. "NASA Retires Mineral Mapping Instrument on Mars Orbiter." NASA, NASA, 7 Sept. 2023, https://www.nasa.gov/missions/mars-reconnaissance-orbiter/nasa-retires-mineral-mapping-instrument-on-mars-orbiter/

Greicius, Anthony. "The First Global Geologic Map of Titan Completed." NASA, NASA, 26 July 2023, https://www.nasa.gov/solar-system/the-first-global-geologic-map-of-titan-completed/

Hille, Karl B. "A Closer Look at Mercury's Spin and Gravity Reveals the Planet's Inner Solid Core." NASA, NASA, 26 July 2023, https://www.nasa.gov/solar-system/a-closer-look-at-mercurys-spin-and-gravity-reveals-the-planets-inner-solid-core/

"HiRISE Browse Map." The HiRISE Project at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Lab, NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona, https://www.uahirise.org/hiwish/browse

"HiRISE Catalog- Images with Captions." The HiRISE Project at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Lab, NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona, https://www.uahirise.org/hiwish/browse

"Landforms from Space." Google Earth, NASA Earth Science, https://earth.app.goo.gl/gHah27

"Mariner to Mercury, Venus and Mars." NASA Facts, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, https://mars.nasa.gov/internal_resources/809/

"Mars in a Minute: How Do You Choose a Landing Site? – NASA Mars Exploration." NASA Science Mars Exploration Program, NASA/JPL-Caltech, 15 Oct. 2018, https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/22095/mars-in-a-minute-how-do-you-choose-a-landing-site/

"Mars in a Minute: How Do You Get to Mars? – NASA Mars Exploration." NASA Science Mars Exploration Program, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 21 Nov. 2011, https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/20032/mars-in-a-minute-how-do-you-get-to-mars/

"Mars in a Minute: How Do You Land on Mars? – NASA Mars Exploration." NASA Science Mars Exploration Program, NASA, 13 Apr. 2012, https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/20046/mars-in-a-minute-how-do-you-land-on-mars/

"Mars in a Minute: What's inside Mars? – NASA Mars Exploration." NASA, NASA/JPL-Caltech, 21 Feb. 2018, https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/21507/mars-in-a-minute-whats-inside-mars/

McCartney , Gretchen. "Infrared Eyes on Enceladus: Hints of Fresh Ice in Northern Hemisphere." NASA, NASA, 20 Sept. 2023, https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/jpl/infrared-eyes-on-enceladus-hints-of-fresh-ice-in-northern-hemisphere/

McCartney, Gretchen. "Icy Moonquakes: Surface Shaking Could Trigger Landslides." NASA, NASA, 28 Sept. 2023, https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/jpl/icy-moonquakes-surface-shaking-could-trigger-landslides/

McCartney, Gretchen. "NASA Study Suggests Shallow Lakes in Europa's Icy Crust Could Erupt." NASA, NASA, 7 Sept. 2023, https://www.nasa.gov/missions/europa-clipper/nasa-study-suggests-shallow-lakes-in-europas-icy-crust-could-erupt/

O'Neill, Ian J. "NASA's Magellan Data Reveals Volcanic Activity on Venus." NASA, NASA, 28 Sept. 2023, www.nasa.gov/missions/veritas/nasas-magellan-data-reveals-volcanic-activity-on-venus/

"Viking Mission to Mars." NASA Facts, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, https://mars.nasa.gov/internal_resources/828/

Williams, David R. "Viking Mission to Mars." NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive, NASA, 12 Apr. 2018, https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/viking.html