We are Curious, So Mars Here We Come!

I wonder what you think of when you hear the word Mars …

Do you think of aliens, the color red, or maybe the candy bar!

In just a hours, the Mars Curiosity Rover is scheduled to land on Mars!

You can learn more about Mars right here on Big Universe!

• Mars by Derek Zobel: Mars is known as the red, rocky planet. It has many volcanoes, including the solar system’s largest one. Eager readers will learn about the physical features of Mars and its place in the solar system.
• Mars by George Cappacio: With this series, readers journey into space, taking a close look at our galaxy. Each title answers many questions about these planets and celestial bodies, including: How and when they were created? How big are they? What is the environment like? What kind of technology do we use to explore them? Can life exist there? The series not only covers all the major planets in our solar system, but also describe the sun, stars, moons, asteroids, meteors, and comets. The books include up-to-date information about the latest discoveries and the most recent missions into space.

I have found some very interesting ways to learn even more about the Mars Curiosity Rover ….

• Did you know you can connect with the Mars Curiosity Rover on twitter and facebook?
• On the Siemens Site, you can find a countdown to the landing as well as information about How Landing on Mars is One of the Hardest Jobs on Earth
• On the NASA site in the Mars Science Laboratory area, there is information about the launch, news updates, and even mulitmedia images to help you explore! (You can also find a countdown here)
• On Space.com, you can even see pictures about How Mars Rover Curiosity’s Nail Biting Landing Works!

With all of the great sites I have found related to the Mars Curiosity Rover, I think I like the Mars Science Laboratory from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (California Institute of Technology) the best!

• You can follow the landing live and see the first images
• This is a great way to learn more about the mission  (and I think it is in words that are understandable for students)
• There are all kinds of multimedia interactives, images, and videos
• You can even learn more about Mars!
• You can keep up with the twitter feed of @MarsCuriosity
• There is a simple way for students and adults to send a message to the Curiosity Rover!

Based on the things learned from the books on Big Universe and the new information from the Curiosity Rover, students could use the Writing Area on Big Universe to write a story about what they learn and/or create a story about what would happen if they got to spend a day on Mars!

Have fun and exploring another planet in our Solar System!

Discovery Lands, But Space Education Does Not

The Shuttle Discovery

The wheels of space shuttle Discovery touched down around noon today at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, having successfully completed 39 missions and traveled millions of miles over its 27-year service. While the ship will be retired from its forays into outer space, the scientific contributions will continue “to infinity and beyond.”

The space ship will “offer scientific insight to future engineers,” said mission management team chairman Mike Moses in a statement on the NASA website. “‘The vehicle itself is a science platform,’ he said, adding that parts of Discovery will be pulled from the spacecraft and evaluated.”

Two other shuttle missions are in the planning stages for the Endeavour and Atlantis spacecrafts. These current events offer the perfect opportunity to improve literacy by incorporating everyday news into classroom lessons. (For more ideas, read “10 Ways to Use Current Events in the Classroom” or “Add Life to Your Teaching with Current Events.”)

Children can learn more about the shuttle program at Big Universe.com, an educational website with an extensive online library of children’s picture books. Books on the shuttle, astronomy, space, astronauts, planets, technology and other facets of science are only a click away. It’s a great resource for kids who need to write a report about outer space or astronomy, or who need background information for a science project.

 Space and Astronomy Books on Big Universe

• Space Shuttles
• NASA
• Space Stations
• Astronauts
• Living in Space
• Rourke’s World of Science Encyclopedia, Volume 7: Astronomy and Space
• The Wonder of Outer Space
• The Wonder of Our Solar System
• Planets
• The Hubble Telescope
• From Hubble to Hubble: Astronomers and Outer Space
• Meet the Planets
• Going Around the Sun: Some Planetary Fun
• The Solar System (Bellwether)
• The Solar System (Teacher Created Materials)
• Space
• The Sun
• Sun
• Neptune
• Venus
• Uranus
• Saturn
• Mars
• Mercury
• Jupiter
• Earth (Bellwether)
• Earth (Rourke)
• The Moon
• Moon
• Asteroids
• Stars

NOTE: To view additional NASA teaching resource materials for educators, go to the following links: K-4 and Grades 5-8.