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Mars Image Analysis

A 6-8 grade STEM lesson

Author: Nancy Parra-Quinlan

Date 06 June 2023

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Notes for teachers

Students will be looking at actual NASA photos from Mars and identifying landforms in each picture. Using the feature ID cards, students will determine what features are evident in their Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) photograph. Laminate the THEMIS landform images.

List of Materials

Wet erase marker - 1 per group
Ruler - 1 per group
Calculator - 1 per student
Feature ID Charts - 1 per group
THEMIS image - 1 per group

Materials can be found at:

THEMIS Image Set | Mars Education

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Standards

NGSS

MS-ESS1-4-

IO1: Reconstruct geologic events using empirical evidence while assuming the laws of nature on Mars are relatively similar to those laws on Earth.

IO2: Respectfully debate potential Mars geologic history research topics and questions to elicit relevant information, using quantitative and qualitative evidence and scientific reasoning based on personal observations and previous scientists work regarding patterns of change or possible relationships

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Objective(s):

Today students will be able to identify landforms on Mars using feature identification charts.

Today students will be able to work together to determine what features can be found on the Martian surface.

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Agenda (50 minutes)

Distribute the Feature ID charts (pages 10-18) to students. I recommend printing them directly to a copier rather than copying a printed set, for better resolution. (5 minutes)

Have students look through the features to familiarize themselves with what they may find on the THEMIS images. (10 minutes)

Give each group 1 laminated Mars THEMIS image and one wet erase (Vis-a-vis) marker. (5 minutes)

Have students identify landforms on Mars and mark what they are using the wet erase marker. (20 minutes)

Collect and redistribute the laminated Mars THEMIS images and have groups check the identification made by other groups. Add any missed features the previous group may have missed. (10 minutes)

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

How are features on Mars similar to those on Earth?

Both Earth and Mars are rocky planets. There are many features that are similar and the job we have before us is to help scientists identify those features using THEMIS images.

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Suggested group structure is groups of 3-4 students
Give students copies of the feature ID charts and have them read through the various landforms listed.
Give each group vis-a-vis markers and one of the laminated MSIP THEMIS photos.
Using the features ID charts, ask students to label the images with identifiable landforms.

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Assessment

Check student work against the feature ID charts. They should have correctly labeled all of the features

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Differentiation

If students are having difficulty identifying features, divide the photo in half with a marker and just have them label one half.

If students are having difficulty identifying features, limit the number of features to identify, making sure the few you assign can be found on the photo.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

After students have spent some time on an image, swap photos with other groups and have them check the labels. They can also label features that were not identified by the previous group.

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