WV State Standards: Math: AGP.1.2 Science: SC.9.4.6,  SC.9.2.7,  SC.9.5.4,  SC.10.4.14,  AB.4.30,  AB.4.31 National Standards:  Science: 1 Blooms Taxonomy: Knowledge, Comprehension, Synthesis, Evaluation 21st Century Skills: Communication, Creativity and Intellectual Curiosity, Problem Identification, Formulation, and Solution Thinking and Problem-Solving, Information and Media Literacy, Self-direction

Objective(s)

Students will develop a research plan to investigate the objectives in the proposed mission.

Time Required

45 minutes - One Class Period

Pre-Requisite Skills

The ability to communicate with peers and collaborate to develop a research plan

Computer with PowerPoint Presentation software and data projection capability for teacher use and computers with word processing capability for student use are needed.  Students may also use concept mapping software, if available, for the development of their action plans.

Student Handout 1:  Scenario Introduction and Mission Parameters
Scenario PowerPoint Presentation
Student Handout 2:  Research Planning Sheet

In this unit, students will be asked to engineer a self sustaining ecosystem on the Martian surface for four adults.  The problem is the need for sustainable food production.  During the unit, students should be encouraged to be creative and innovative in their method of solving this problem.

1. Introduce the scenario by delivering  the Scenario PowerPoint Presentation to the students.  You may choose to distribute Student Handout 1 at this time or at the conclusion of the presentation.  Handout 1 also introduces the scenario to the students but provides additional detail of the mission requirements.
2. Briefly engage students in a discussion of the main points of the mission; however, limit the discussion, as the students are responsible for determining the most important aspects of the mission in their groups in the next step of the procedure.
3. Divide students into research teams of two to three students and have them complete Student Handout 2  research planning sheet.  Indicate that they are required to address only the issues from this sheet at this time.  Students are to record the information in a word processing program for future reference.
4. After completing the requirements of the planning sheet call the class back together as a large group.  Engage students in a discussion.  Stress that not all students are expected to solve the problem in the same way.  At this time, students should have an action plan unique to their group that they will follow in the research phase of the unit.  Student action plans may be developed using concept mapping software such as Inspiration or drawing features in a word document.
5. After the class discussion, ask students to return to their groups for five minutes and see if they would like to make any changes to their research plan based on the large group discussion.
6. Call students back together and tell them they will be completing research during the next class that will help answer the questions they developed today.

It may be helpful to assign roles to each student to maximize the individual contribution.  A recorder and spokesperson may be two roles that can be used for this activity.

In this activity, small groups will work together to develop a research plan.

This unit has been designed so that students address only the sustainable food production problem of the mission.  Depending on the time available or the students ability level, the instructor may decide to assign additional problems to other groups.  Some examples of the problems are included on Handout 1.  If this is done, it would more closely resemble actual engineering practices as student groups would collaborate together in order to complete the overall mission.

At the completion of this lesson, students are to have completed Handout 1 which leads to the development of an action plan.  For this activity, the action plan is for each student to be responsible for the acquisition of specific information.  If the teacher chooses not to use the handout, the evaluation may include meeting the objectives on the handout, but not necessarily in the specific sequence.