1. Understanding the Mars Mission and soil studies by using the web A Web project

2. Rationale Scientists often need to get a better background to better understand the scientific investigation that they are working on. With today’s communication the internet is a wealth of information on all different aspects of a given topic. This project is to broaden your understanding of the plethora of information that is available and to begin to be able to glean what you need for what your study.

3. The Mission Each table group will get a website to investigate. We will have about 45 minutes in the library. In that time I would like your table to investigate one of the seven sites (each table group will have a different site). Please split up the work as there will be only minimal talking allowed in the library. Your mission will be to build a power point that will introduce the webpage to the rest of the class. Use the following questions to guide (but not limit) your investigation. The expectation will be that you have 5-6 slides.

4. Use the following to guide but not limit your website investigation 1. What is the focus of your website? How is it relevant to our soil study? 2. Describe 2 or 3 interesting and relevant items/articles in your website, include pictures 3. Who are some of the scientists named or discussed on the site. 4. What special features does your site have that would be interesting to use for your soils report. Feel free to link the site in your power point to show us some of the interesting items.

5. Mars Websites http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu The Phoenix Mars Mission official website http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov This site focuses on the exploration that is being conducted not only in orbit around Mars, but on the surface as well, analyzing the composition of the soils on the surface. This site focuses on the exploration that is being conducted not only in orbit around Mars, but on the surface as well, analyzing the composition of the soils on the surface. Soil resources http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/soil/ Explore soil ecology, meet microscopic creatures, and journey underground in the virtual reality voyage of the Earthship. From the Discovery Channel school. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/solar_system This site, through NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, This site, through NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, highlights missions that focus on exploration of the solar system. http://nai.arc.nasa.gov http://nai.arc.nasa.govhttp://nai.arc.nasa.gov NASA Astrobiology Institute’s (NAI) website. How does life begin and evolve? Is there life elsewhere in the Universe? What is the future of life on Earth and beyond? NAI carries out collaborative research and education in astrobiology, the Interdisciplinary science that seeks answers to these fundamental questions. It supports investigation of these issues on Earth and serves as a portal to space for the scientific community. http://astroventure.arc.nasa.gov At this interactive site, students in grades 5-8 role-play NASA occupations as they search for and build a planet for human habitation. At this interactive site, students in grades 5-8 role-play NASA occupations as they search for and build a planet for human habitation. Additional resources http://www.marstoday.com/ This website contains links, images, and text from sources across the web that pertain to the planet Mars. The site is searchable, or can be browsed by categories such as Mars News, Planetary Facts, Exploration, Searching for Life, Moons, Meteorites, Missions, and Mars in Fiction. Under each category is a list of links for information and images.

6. Other great resources to sites  http://www.dlese.org/library/index.jsp http://www.dlese.org/library/index.jsp  DLESE is the Digital Library for Earth System  Education, a geoscience community resource that supports teaching and learning about the Earth system. It is funded by the National Science Foundation and is being built by a  community of educators, students, and scientists to support Earth system education at all levels and in both formal and informal settings. http://visibleearth.nasa.gov http://visibleearth.nasa.gov  This is a collection of images and animations of Earth. It has a  searchable index that will allow you to find images and animations of specific topics, such as soils.