Planet

Zorcon

Welcome to the year 2094!

Mission...

The year is 2094. Most of Earth’s resources have been depleted, and nearly all water is polluted. A new planet, Planet Zorcon, has been discovered that has plenty of resources and is completely pollution-free. To meet the needs of all Earthlings, your research team has been assigned to gather resources to determine what might be useful on Earth.

Planet

Zorcon

Zorcon Pre-Mission Organization

Step 1: Form teams of five

If there is an odd number of students, these individuals become “Government Inspectors”

• Oversee each trip to Planet Zorcon.
• Monitor behavior (on Earth and Zorcon) and give fines for improper behavior
• I.E. pushing, yelling, theft, etc.
• Fines may range from one piece of any resource up to an entire trip’s resources.
• All fines must be pre-approved by the “Head of the Government” aka: teacher.

Zorcon Pre-Mission Organization

The role of “Government Inspectors:”

If there is an odd number of students/players, these individuals become “Government Inspectors”

Zorcon Pre-Mission Organization

Step 2: One member of each team should pick up a bag of materials.

ID Badges

Spoons

Cups

Zorcon Pre-Mission Organization

Step 3: Each team member should select one badge. This will be your “job title” for the simulation.

Zorcon Pre-Mission Organization

Step 4: The “Surveyor” for each group picks up a Resource Inventory activity sheet.

Zorcon Pre-Mission Organization

Step 5: The “Data Collector” adds the name of each player next to their selected role. “Government Inspectors” check to see that it’s filled out correctly.

Step 6: Discuss as a team the items you are seeking from Planet Zorcon. They are listed on the Resource Inventory activity sheet.

Zorcon Pre-Mission Organization

Resources are :

Renewable (R)

Nonrenewable (N)

Inexhaustible (I)

With input from the team, the “Data Collector” places a R, N, or I in this column.

Surveyor

Government Inspectors

Collect as many resources as possible and place them in your cup.

• Time the trip
• Begin with, “Ready, set, GO!”
• End by calling “Time!”
• Monitor behavior to be sure Surveyors follow government regulations. Levy fines as needed.

Government

Regulations

20 second time limit to gather resources.

Only 1 item can be collected in each spoonful.

Trip 1

Exploration

Surveyors:

Line up at least 15 feet from the planet with a cup and spoon.

• Inspectors levy fines, if needed

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• Each team helps count the resources and provide the inventory information to the Data Collector who records it on the “Resource Inventory” activity sheet.

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2

3

Trip 1

Exploration

Government Inspector:

Say, “Ready, set, GO!”

Discussion Questions

• What did you collect on Trip 1? Why?
• What challenges did you experience?
• How evenly were the resources you collected distributed?
• What are you planning to collect next?

Trip 1

Exploration

Discuss as a team what you think the Surveyor should collect on Trip 2.

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Note adjustment to the regulations.

Government

Regulations

20 second time limit to gather resources.

Use a spoon and cup to collect. No limit to how many items on each spoon.

Trip 2

Exploration

Line up at least 15 feet from the planet with a cup and spoon.

• Inspectors levy fines, if needed

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• Each team helps count the resources and provide the inventory information to the Data Collector who records it on the “Resource Inventory” activity sheet.

1

2

3

Trip 2

Exploration

Surveyors:

Government Inspector:

Say, “Ready, set, GO!”

Project Director:

Lead a discussion on what the team members should/could “do” or “make” with their resources to improve life on Earth.

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Consider how renewable, nonrenewable, and inexhaustible resources could be used. Write ideas on the back of the activity sheet.

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Decide what items should be collected next to optimize for the needs of Earth.

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2

3

Discussion Questions

• What challenges did you experience?
• What role did the government play in your collection?
• Do you think there should have been more or less regulation?

Trip 2

Exploration

The Resource Specialist AND Surveyor go together on the trip. The team has 2 spoons and 1 cup.

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Note adjustment to the regulations.

Government

Regulations

10 second time limit to gather resources.

No scooping with cup and spoon. Pick up one resource at a time

Trip 3

Exploration

Mission Update!

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2

3

Trip 3

Exploration

Surveyors &

Resource Specialists:

Line up at least 15 feet from the planet with 2 spoons and a cup.

• Inspectors levy fines, if needed

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• Each team helps count the resources and provide the inventory information to the Data Collector who records it on the “Resource Inventory” activity sheet.

Government Inspector:

Say, “Ready, set, GO!”

Discussion Questions

• What did you collect on Trip 3? Why?
• Do you think there should have been more or less regulation?
• As you look at the resources on planet Zorcon, what careers do you think are associated with the resources you have collected?

Trip 3

Exploration

The unknown mineral (spaghetti) has been identified as a rare mineral with special properties. Water is the largest part of its crystal structure. When the crystals are exposed to Krypton gas, the water is released as pure water. When returned to the air, they recrystallize and recharge by absorbing water from the air. The mineral can be used indefinitely.

Only pieces that are not broken can be used (will count).

• Any/All team members may go to the Planet
• 2 Cups per team
• 1 spoon per person

Government

Regulations

15 second time limit to gather resources.

Resources must fit in the cups.

Trip 4

Exploration

*Injuries will result in a loss of all resources.

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*One Government Inspector and the Security team members may decide to stay on Earth to guard the previously collected resources.

Final Mission

Government Inspector:

Say, “Ready, set, GO!”

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2

3

Trip 4

Exploration

Any/All team members:

Line up at least 15 feet from the planet with 2 cups and 1 spoon per person.

• Inspectors levy fines, if needed

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• Each team counts the number of unbroken spaghetti and the Data Collector records it. The team then estimates the amount of time it is going to take to count the remaining resources they have collected. Record the time on the Resource Inventory sheet.

Discussion Questions

• What did you collect on Trip 4? Why?
• What challenges did you experience?
• What does the new planet look like now?
• Would you be able to live there?
• Why didn’t anyone think to protect the planet?

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Trip 4

Exploration

Discussion Questions

• Do you think there should have been more or less regulation?
• Are the damages your fault or the government’s fault?
• Which resources were most valuable? Why?
• Can you restore the new planet to its original condition?
• What types of professionals would be needed to restore Zorcon?

Trip 4

Exploration

Planet Earth

The future of our planet depends on human behaviors that we can control and our reaction to things we can’t control, such as the weather and earthquakes. If no action is taken to manage how we use natural resources, nonrenewable resources can be exhausted, the quality of inexhaustible resources can be damaged, and the ability to replenish renewable resources can be lost.

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Taking care of the planet requires we understand our resources to ensure our future!