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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Life on Mars


Life on Mars
What does it take for life to exist beyond our home planet?  Discover Mars and learn about NASA investigations.

Website(s)
               
Title
Web Address
LPI: Explore
Steve Spangler UV color changing beads

Supplies

·         Succulent plant
·         Root stimulant
·         Pebbles
·         Plastic pop/water bottles
·         Soil
·         UV Beads
·         Pipe cleaners
·         Water
·         ¼ cup of vinegar
·         Baking soda
·         Duct Tape
·         Small paper cups
·         Box lid
·         Misc. objects to be used in creation of a creature


 Activity:  Mars Garden
 
1.       Cut all of the plastic bottles about a third from the top.  Keep both pieces.
2.       Have the teens fill the bottom portion of the bottles with a scoop of pebbles, then soil. 
3.       Cut a piece of the succulent plant off and place root stimulant to the bottom of the piece.
4.       Plant the cutting in the soil. 
5.       Water the cutting.
6.       Using duct tape, place the top piece back onto the bottle.
7.       Have the teens take home their “garden” to observe.

Activity:  Mars Creature

1.     Discuss UV, and how animals/creatures would need to be protected from solar radiation.  Also discuss/brainstorm what the creature would need to survive on Mars.
2.       Have the teens create a Martian creature using pipe cleaners and other misc. objects you’ve managed to collect.  Give each child two UV beads to use.
3.       They must be able to describe what their creature is able to do in order to survive the harsh Martian climate.

Activity:  Volcanos!

1.       Cut the small paper cup in half.  Tape the bottom half to the center of the box lid.
2.       Pour two approximately tablespoons of baking soda into the cup.
3.       Pour about 1/3 of the vinegar into the cup.
4.       As the “lava” overflows, ask them to describe what happened and what this has to do with volcanos.
5.        After the eruption settles down, have the teens trace the general outline of the flow.  Note:  on the Explore site, they say to use play-doh to mark each flow.  I had a difficult time getting the teens to follow this, that I just had them outline the general outlines.
6.       Repeat steps 2-3 two more times.

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