Mars Of The Mind
Design Document
Lesson Plan for Instructor-Led Situation
(This section addresses Course Requirement #2)

Background

These lessons were designed to be used independently, but can be used in a classroom setting. This lesson plan provides tips for using this curriculum in a classroom setting, with the teacher serving as a facilitator rather than as an instructor.

Unit Preparation Checklist

  1. Schedule date and time for instruction.
  2. Arrange for computer lab access on scheduled date and time.
  3. Preview unit using a web-browser to insure all links are still functional.

Unit Objectives

  1. Describe the examples of new discoveries and/or inventions, which altered man's view of reality.
  2. Locate different examples of discoveries and/or inventions, which altered man's view of reality that are of personal significance.
  3. View historical pictures of Mars from different time periods and study the then available technologies used to form those pictures.
  4. Use this information to form opinions concerning the accuracy of technology and it's effect on man's view of the universe at any given time.
  5. Hypothesize about a new discovery scientists will make to support exploration of Mars and what new truths may be derived from this discovery.

Unit Agenda

Activity Minutes
1. Cover Unit Goal and all Lesson Objectives with students 15
2. Introduce Lesson 1: Blast Off! to students 60
3. Debrief activities from Lesson 1 with students 30
BREAK
4. Introduce Lesson 2: Picture This! to students 60
5. Debrief activities from Lesson 2 with students 30
BREAK
6. Introduce Lesson 3: Hypothesize That! to students 30
7. Debrief activities from Lesson 3 with students 90

A. Cover Unit Goal and all Lesson Objectives with students
  1. Present "Mars Of The Mind" Unit goal with students.
  2. Present the objectives for each lesson.
B. Introduce Lesson 1: Blast Off! to students
  1. Review lesson objectives.
  2. Highlight the main lesson activities students will engage in:
    • Reading about inventions and discoveries throughout history which changed man's view of reality.
    • Locating their own examples of inventions or discoveries which changed man's view of reality.
  3. Instruct students to log on to the Internet.
  4. Instruct students to access the Blast Off! URL.
  5. Monitor student progress by moving about the computer lab, answering any questions and addressing any technology problems.
C. Debrief activities from Lesson 1 with students
  1. Ask the class what they thought about the discoveries and inventions presented in the lesson. Select two or three students to answer.
  2. Ask each student to share the discovery or invention he or she located which was of personal significance to them. Ask each student how this discovery or invention changed man's view of reality.

BREAK
D. Introduce Lesson 2: Picture This! to students
  1. Read the introduction on the Picture This! web page.
  2. Look at the three graphics of Mars. Notice the dates.
  3. Review the thought questions under the graphics.
  4. Start by clicking the "orange" link for Giovanni Schiaparelli (under the graphics). Read about him. If you have time, go to the links for more information.
  5. Go back to the Picture This! page. (Use the TOP button or the navigation buttons in the left column.)
  6. Think about the thought questions.
  7. Repeat the process with the Lowell and Viking links.
E. Debrief activities from Lesson 2 with students
  1. Review the thought questions.
  2. Mentally answer them or jot down notes on paper.
  3. If in a group, discuss your answers to the questions with the group.

BREAK
F. Introduce Lesson 3: Hypothesize That! to students
  1. Prior to allowing students to gain access to the Hypothesize That! segment of "Mars Of The Mind", give the students the following scenario: You want to rent a particular movie for tonight -- so, what do you do?
  2. Allow students to collaborate with one another in order to devise a plan. Ask the students to share their ideas with the class.
  3. Explain to students that without even knowing it, they probably used the steps in the scientific method to solve their problem.
  4. Allow students to access the Hypothesize That! web page.
  5. Recount the steps in the scientific method (the example provided is a movie rental situation), especially focusing on the hypothesis stage.
  6. Allow students to visit additional links related to the scientific method.

G. Debrief activities from Lesson 3 with students
  1. Recall information learned in Blast Off! and Picture This!
  2. Learners should read the scenario that asks them to hypothesize about a new discovery scientists will make to support exploration of Mars and what new truths may be derived from this discovery.
  3. Allow learners to write or draw a description of their hypothesis using a writing or drawing program.
  4. After completing the project, allow students to go from computer to computer in order to view and critique the work of others. Students should place a sticky note on the screen of each work they view with positive reinforcement and ideas for improvement.
  5. Allow students to amend their projects.
  6. Instruct students to send writings and drawings via email to the Gallery.
  7. Allow students to view the Gallery to compare and contrast their efforts.

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