In 2012 Mars Rover, Curiosity lands on the planet Mars. Why? Because we are curious! We have a lot of questions. We want to know if life ever arose on Mars. We want to know about its climate, its geology, and in the big picture, we want to learn as much as we can about the planet so we can prepare for human exploration. We encourage you to embrace your own curiosity and participate in this series of activities that help you learn about the planet Mars and prepare you for the culminating challenge of imagining and designing your own Mars community.

Step 1: Reflect on your community
Lesson Document	Lesson Description	Prep Time	Lesson Time	Supporting Materials
1. Reflect on Your Community Full Lesson: (PDF, 1.6 Mb) - Lesson Only: (PDF, 967 Kb) - Student Guide Only: (PDF, 281 Kb) - Teacher Guide Only: (PDF, 953 Kb)	Students draft a plan of an ideal community to serve as a springboard to consider what it would take to live on Mars.	30 min.	2-3 hrs.	Slideshow: Mars Past Present and Future Video: Where Does Your Curiosity Lead?
Step 2: Discover information about Mars
Lesson Document	Lesson Description	Prep Time	Lesson Time	Supporting Materials
2. Earth, Earth's Moon, Mars Balloons Full Lesson: (PDF, 1.47 Mb) - Lesson Only: (PDF, 468 Kb) - Student Guide Only: (PDF, 201 Kb) - Teacher Guide Only: (PDF, 1.30 Mb)	Students construct scale models of Earth, Moon, & Mars to discover size and scale.  Associated Mars Information Slideshow:  Through a PowerPoint Presentation, students learn about the environmental constraints that would affect human habitation of Mars.	10 min.	75 min.	Video: Mars in a Minute: How Do You Get To Mars?
3. Solar System Scale & Size Full Lesson: (PDF, 1.68 Mb) - Lesson Only: (PDF, 442 Kb) - Student Guide Only: (PDF, 284 Kb) - Teacher Guide Only: (PDF, 1.51 Mb)	Students will create a model of the solar system using beads and string, and compare planetary sizes using common types of fruit and seeds.  This lesson follows the simple balloon model in Lesson 2, covering the relationships of size and distance in the solar system.	20 min.	1 hr.	Slideshow: Distance to Mars Video: The Challenges of Getting to Mars: Launching a Mars Rover
4. Discovering Mars Full Lesson: (PDF, 801 Kb) - Lesson Only: (PDF, 907 Kb) - Student Guide Only: (PDF, 153 Kb) - Teacher Guide Only: (PDF, 426 Kb)	By playing an interactive card game, students create a mission that balances science return with mission constraints.	5 min.	1 hr.	Slideshow: Things to know before you go Video: Mars in a Minute: Is Mars Really Red
5. Soda Straw Rockets Full Lesson: (PDF, 743 Kb) - Lesson Only: (PDF, 502 Kb) - Student Guide Only: (PDF, 360 Kb) - Teacher Guide Only: (PDF, 456 Kb)	By building rockets out of simple drinking straws, students investigate how variations in a rocket’s nose cone influences distance of flights.	45 min.	90 min.	Slideshow: Landing on Mars is Hard Video: The Challenges of Getting to Mars: The Cruise To Mars
6. Strange, New Planet Full Lesson: (PDF, 1.43 Mb) - Lesson Only: (PDF, 1.48 Mb) - Student Guide Only: (PDF, 194 Kb) - Teacher Guide Only: (PDF, 684 Kb)	This hands-on lesson using play dough engages students in the way in which humans explore planets through a variety of missions from Earth-based telescopes to rovers.	45 min.	2 hrs.	Slideshow: A Strange New Planet
7. Marsbound Full Lesson: (PDF, 981 Kb) - Lesson Only: (PDF, 541 Kb) - Student Guide Only: (PDF, 881 Kb) - Teacher Guide Only: (PDF, 482 Kb)	By playing an interactive card game, students create a mission that balances science return with mission constraints.	1 hr.	3 45-min. sessions	Video: How do you Land On Mars?
8. Lava Layering	By creating models of lava flows with play dough, students analyze the layers that form on a planet to understand its history.			Slideshow: Exploring Layers
9. Mystery Planet	After receiving crustal samples, students observe the characteristics and make inferences about the history of an unknown planet, including whether it might have life.			Slideshow: Mystery Planet
10. Rover Races Full Lesson: (PDF, 3.27 Mb) - Lesson Only: (PDF, 862 Kb) - Student Guide Only: (PDF, 1.67 Mb) - Teacher Guide Only: (PDF, 2.23 Mb)	Working in small teams, students pretend to be a rover and learn the constraints of operating a rover on Mars.	45 min.	105 min.	Video: The Challenges of Getting to Mars: Selecting a Landing Site
11. Mars Image Analysis	Students use orbital images of Mars to analyze its environment.			Slideshow: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Information Slideshow: Mars Images Past and Present Video: Mars Science Laboratory Landing Site: Gale Crater
Step 3: Imagine your community on Mars
Lesson Document	Lesson Description	Prep Time	Lesson Time	Supporting Materials
12. Imagine Your Community on Mars Full Lesson: (PDF, 1.03 Mb) - Lesson Only: (PDF, 980 Kb) - Student Guide Only: (PDF, 205 Kb) - Teacher Guide Only: (PDF, 623 Kb)	Students draft community plan ideas laden with technologies to help overcome environmental and cultural constraints of living on Mars.	5 min.	2-3 hrs.	Slideshow: Inter-Related Mars Missions Videos: Testing Curiosity Parachute Part 1-4
Step 4: Create your community on Mars
Lesson Document	Lesson Description	Prep Time	Lesson Time	Supporting Materials
13. Constructing Your Sustainable Communities on Mars Full Lesson: (PDF, 2.35 Mb) - Lesson Only: (PDF, 1.07 Mb) - Student Guide Only: (PDF, 3.07 Mb) - Teacher Guide Only: (PDF, 475 Kb)	After analyzing multiple design ideas, students create a 3-D model of a community on Mars.	15 min.	2-3 hrs.	Building Curiosity Series Video: Getting Wired for Mars Video: Landing System Drop Test Video: Rover Shakedown Video: Curiosity's Stunt Double Takes a Spin Video: The Big Move for Next Mars Rover Video: Mars Rover Power
Step 5: Share
Lesson Document	Lesson Description	Prep Time	Lesson Time	Supporting Materials
14. Present Your Community Designs Full Lesson: (PDF, 1.01 Mb) - Lesson Only: (PDF, 1.14 Mb) - Student Guide Only: (PDF, 319 Kb) - Teacher Guide Only: (PDF, 561 Kb)	Applying learning from presentation experts, students prepare a formal presentation and give a report about their communities.	10 min.	2-3 hrs.	None