You are a NASA scientist looking for evidence of life on Mars. Where would you look? What type of evidence would you need to find?

You will be required to complete three tasks to complete your assignment. Download a copy of your journal to take notes!

Final Rubric - Will you keep your job at NASA?

Background material:

Task 1: Use the following sites to gather information.

• Making a Splash on Mars - Read this article and complete a chart describing some of the properties of water, and where on Mars water might be found.
• The Case of the Missing Mars' Water - Continue to complete your chart of signs of water on Mars

• Water Basics - To help you understand more about water, take notes on the propertiers of water.
• Does Mars Have Life? An interview with Chris McKay, a planetary scientist at NASA Ames Research Center

   

Visit Mars

Task 2: Visit Mars and learn more about its landforms

Field trip to Mars - Examine at least four (4) landforms on Earth and Mars. Record important features of each landform.

Geology of Mars - Gather more information on landforms.

• Floods and Gullies
• Landslides
• Canyons
• Volcanoes
• Lava Plains
• Channels

Find Images of Mars

Task 3: Gather images of your visit to Mars

Find six images of areas where you think water may be found, or where it once existed. Copy the images into your Mars Journal, and tell why those images are important.

• Mars Atlas

• Viking Orbiter images

• Signs of Flowing water

• Spirit images

• Opportunity images

• Volcanos

• Water Features

• Gallery

 

Now that you have finished your tasks, NASA has allowed you to Become a Martian!

Mars for Kids - Play some games