Lesson Plan - Mars on Earth

Watch a Video

Watch the video “Blast Off to Mars!” and ask: What have scientists learned about Mars from past missions to the planet?

Preview Words to Know

Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• volunteers
• simulate
• Martian
• isolation

Set a Purpose for Reading

As students read, have them identify two challenges astronauts will face on Mars.

1. Based on the article, why does NASA want to learn what a year on Mars would be like?
The article explains that NASA wants to learn what a year on Mars would be like because it has plans to send humans to Mars. The article states, “NASA, the U.S. space agency, is preparing to land the first astronauts on Mars in the 2030s.” Knowledge about what it is like to live on Mars will help astronauts prepare.
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2. Why is the CHAPEA crew growing tomatoes and lettuce?
The CHAPEA crew is growing tomatoes and lettuce to simulate that part of living on Mars. Astronauts on Mars would have to grow their own fruits and vegetables. A trip to Mars would take about nine months, and fruits and vegetables would not last that long.
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3. What do you think are some of the toughest challenges the CHAPEA team is facing? Explain.
Sample response: One of the toughest challenges the CHAPEA crew is facing is communicating with the outside world. When they send a question to NASA, they have to wait about 40 minutes for an answer. That’s how long it will take to send messages back and forth between Mars and Earth. It probably is frustrating to have to wait so long. Another really tough challenge is being away from family and friends for a whole year. The crew members must miss their loved ones.
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FEATURED SKILL: Reading a Timeline

Use the skill builder “Next Stop, Mars!” to note key missions in the history of NASA’s exploration of Mars. Guide students to understand that other space agencies (those of the European Union, China, India, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates) have also explored Mars; their missions are not on the timeline.

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