Curriculum Supplements
Robotics activities are available. Download the activity summaries (PDF, 1.33 MB) or the full activity set (PDF, 1.08 MB).
The Mars Curriculum Modules are designed to help bring the topic of Mars into your 4th through 12th grade classrooms.
- Students learn how sediment, landforms and drainage patterns provide clues about a planet's geologic history.
- Students investigate the formation of Mars' 3000-mile-long valley.
- Can water exist on Mars Today?
NASA Resources and Educational Programs
- Robotics Alliance Project - Robots are a great way to inspire students to learn about math, science, and technology. Enjoy robots in the classroom or find out how students can participate in robotics competitions and other events.
- Learn to study Mars like a scientist.
- This Directory is a convenient way to find NASA space science products for use in classrooms, science museums, planetariums and other settings.
- NASA SpaceLink Mars Educational Materials
- This is the Mars section of NASA's primary site for educators and their students. Bookmark http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/index.html as your source of NASA educational materials.
- NASA CORE (Central Operation of Resources for Educators)
- This site offers Mars-related audio-visual materials. See http://education.nasa.gov/edprograms/core/home/index.html for other resources.
Educational Sites Created by Mars Missions and Instruments
Cornell University is responsible for the Athena scientific instrument package on the twin rovers being launched in 2003. Their site offers educational and fun ways to explore Mars.
What is Mars' weather today?
The Mars Global Surveyor is currently orbiting Mars. The Global Surveyor Radio Science Team Education Outreach Program at Stanford University gives a daily Martian Weather Report and has a selection of lessons and activities for grades K-12.
What's happening on the surface?
The Mars Orbiter Camera on Mars Global Surveyor is looking at craters, flood channels, clouds and dust devils. Malin Space Science Systems has assembled some interesting educational materials.
How deep are Mars' valleys and how high are its mountains?
The Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter on Mars Global Surveyor from NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center is mapping the ups and downs of Mars' surface.
What can we learn from Mars' magnetic field?
The Magnetometer/Electron Reflectometer team on Mars Global Surveyor at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center can tell you.
What's Mars made of?
The Thermal Emission Spectrometer Thermal Emission Spectrometer on Mars Global Surveyor is finding out! Visit their educational website at Arizona State University.
Phoenix Mars Lander
The Phoenix Classroom offers activities and materials to facilitate student understanding of fundamental concepts related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
More Resources
- Reaching for the Red Planet is a multi-purpose curriculum focusing on planning a Mars colony. The project includes lessons about the Earth's environment, choosing a purpose for a Mars colony and designing that colony. The students will use drawings, creative writing, research skills, team work, math and the scientific method to design an artificial environment for Mars. Several assignments, a teacher's tour guide to the planets, a guide to the question of life on Mars and a guide to current and planned Mars missions are included.