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Title: Solar System Expedition Base Challenge Presentation
Duration: Up to one full school day
Intended Audience: Elementary Students in Grades 3-5.
Context: Presentation offered in the context of a traditional library “Author Visit”.
Facility: Schools: Auditorium & Library
What’s Covered: The presentation kicks off in the auditorium where all participating students are presented with a challenge. The students will be embarking on a mission to explore each planet in the Solar System, with the intent of finding one to colonize. After measuring conditions on each of the planets they will be visiting, the will need to choose a planet to colonize and then design a base capable of surviving conditions there.
After this brief introduction, students learn interesting facts about each of the planets, and some of the many considerations that go into planetary base design. A student volunteer is then chosen from the audience to come to the stage and launch a virtual rocket. Their progress is captured by a camera on the stage, and transmitted to a local projector so all students can see the action. After the launch, the demonstrating student will then travel to Mars, where they will launch a virtual probe down to surface to take a variety of measurements.
After this initial assembly, the interaction then transitions to the school library. Classes of students file into the school library throughout the day, where they each repeat the steps demonstrated at the morning assembly. Each student will launch into space, visit each planet to take measurements and recording data as they go. At the end of each lesson, each student or team of students will complete their base design. Each class should be able to complete the lesson in the library in 45 minutes.
Resources Needed: A projector and microphone will be needed for the initial presentation in the auditorium. In the library, when students undertake the lesson, enough iPads will be needed so that every student, or group of up to three students will have one. These iPads will need to be setup with the Zappar augmented reality app ahead of the presentation. This app will need access to the Internet to download each augmented reality scene. District firewall permissions needed to access the Internet will need to be setup ahead of time to facilitate this download.
Long-Term Learning: After the presentation, the host school or library will be given 1 classroom set of 25 Solar System Expedition workbooks.
What Does It Cost:
– 1 Day Engagement: $1,750/day
– 2 Day Engagement: $1,250/day (Where 2 schools/libraries order training for consecutive days. The total cost would be $2,500)
– 3 Day Engagement: $1,000/day (Where 3 schools/libraries order training for consecutive days. The total cost would be $3,000)
Note: All lesson related materials left with the school after the presentation are provided FREE of charge. See Long Term Learning above.
Contact Us: Use the form at the bottom of this page to contact us and learn more!
K – 2nd Grade:
Grade 3:
Grade 4:
Grade 5:
Middle School (6-8)
Grade 1:
Grade 2:
Grade 3:
Grade 4:
Grade 5:
Grade 6:
Grade 7:
Grade 8:
Grade 2:
Physical Science: Properties of Matter
– 2.P.8.1: Observe and measure objects in terms of their properties, including size, shape, color, temperature, weight, texture, sinking or floating in water, and attraction and repulsion of magnets.
– 2.P.8.2: Identify objects and materials as solid, liquid, or gas.
Nature of Science: The Practice of Science
– 2.N.1.1: Raise questions about the natural world, investigate them in teams through free exploration and systematic observations, and generate appropriate explanations based on those explorations.
Grade 3:
Physical Science: Properties of Matter
– 3.P.8.1: Measure and compare temperatures of various samples of solids and liquids.
– 3.P.8.3: Compare materials and objects according to properties such as size, shape, color, texture, and hardness.
Nature of Science: The Practice of Science
– 3.N.1.1: Raise questions about the natural world, investigate them individually and in teams through free exploration and systematic investigations, and generate appropriate explanations based on those explorations.
– 3.N.1.3: Keep records as appropriate, such as pictorial, written, or simple charts and graphs, of investigations conducted.
Grade 5:
Physical Science: Properties of Matter:
– 5.P.8.1: Compare and contrast the basic properties of solids, liquids, and gases, such as mass, volume, color, texture, and temperature.
Earth and Space Science: Earth in Space and Time
– SC.5.E.5.2: Recognize the major common characteristics of all planets and compare/contrast the properties of inner and outer planets.
Nature of Science: The Practice of Science
– 5.N.1.1: Define a problem, use appropriate reference materials to support scientific understanding, plan and carry out scientific investigations of various types such as: systematic observations, experiments requiring the identification of variables, collecting and organizing data, interpreting data in charts, tables, and graphics, analyze information, make predictions, and defend conclusions.
Grade 8:
Earth and Space Science: Earth in Space and Time
– 8.E.5.3: Distinguish the hierarchical relationships between planets and other astronomical bodies relative to solar system, galaxy, and universe, including distance, size, and composition.