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Summary:
The earth is dying. Your group has decided to leave at once and make a new home on the moon. You have three major challenges: (1) Survival, (2) Form a new government, (3) Persuade others on earth to come and join your colony.
Materials:
- 11”-17” paper
- rulers
- E-Mail
- Internet access
- colored pencils
- Computers
- space blankets
- Claris Works 4.0
Background For Teachers:
The students should have completed a unit in the evolution and
writing of the United States Constitution. The students also should have previously
studied units on energy, ecology, and space science.
Developed by Germaine Myerchin,
Ann Taggart, Laraine
Whitear, and Robert Richins
Intended Learning Outcomes:
Students will use reference sources to obtain information. Students will recognize the personal relevance of science in daily life, respect the contributions of science to the quality of human life, and recognize the interdependance of science, technology, and society. Students will accept responsibility for actively helping to solve social, ethical, and ecological problems related to science and technology. Students will understand science concepts and principles and will use the language and concepts of science as a means of thinking and communicating. Students will prepare reports describing the findings of investigations and the reasoning which led to the conclusions. Finally students will recognize the need for creative thinking and imagination in designing scientific inquiries. Instructional Procedures:
Teachers dress in “Moon Suits” made from space blankets. Surprise students
by announcing that the earth is dying and they must plan immediately for a move
to the moon where they will create a biosphere, plan a government, and persuade
others to join them.
This lesson can be done by one teacher, or by several teachers concurrently
by splitting up the steps. This lesson plan is developed in conjuction with
a group of teachers participating in an intructional institute. For more lessons
that use the BIG SIX method of instruction see the Moab Institute table of contents:
Library Media Connections
Research Section -- Data Collection
It is time to begin designing the your biosphere by using the resources available
in the Media Services Center (MSS). The following link lists the resources you
are required to use. It is also provides a sheet for you to record your use
of the various media sources.
Science Connections
Examine the Moon Project Alpha-Task Definition link below. Review what you
will need to do to complete this project.
This science portion will help you collect the data and information necessary
to design a habitable biosphere on the moon.
Use the resources listed in the Research Record Form (see Step 2) to answer
the questions on the Preliminary Questionaire (see link below). When you are
done with the Preliminary Questionaire, use the same resources to answer the
questions below.
Food
- What type of soil is on the moon? Explain the types of minerals that are
available.
- What kind of plants and animals could you support using the moon’s soil.
- How would you use them to produce energy and an atmosphere for your biosphere?
Shelter
- Find information about how much ice is available on the moon?
- What sources of energy would you use to produced heat and run other machines
inside the biosphere? How would the different energy sources inter-connect?
Social Studies Connections
Do the following worksheets on separate sheets of lined paper. Staple finished
work to back of packet.
To complete the second worksheet, 'Choosing your form of government', you
will need to meet in your group and decide what form of government you choose
for your new colony.
Audio or Video Transmission
Each person must prepare a video or audio transmission to be sent to another
planet or to earth.
The transmission must be greater than 30 seconds, but less than a minute.
Content: you may issue a call for help if necessary with an explanation of
situation; or your message may be meant to persuade others to come join your
colony.
- Write the script for the transmission.
- Record on video or audio tape.
E-mail Message
Write an e-mail message to students in another school explaining Moon Project
Alpha. Explain to them that you will be sending your time capsule to them and
ask them if they will evaluate your work.
Write a draft of your e-mail message and submit it for approval from your teacher.
After getting teacher approval, send the e-mail message. (Wait for teacher
direction.)
Language Arts Connections
Students will produce a newsletter. Ask students what is meant by the word
'respect'. Generate a class discussion about respect. Who and/or what should
be respected? Why do we respect things? What do we do to earn respect? Direct
their discussion towards respect for the Earth and its resources. Have students
answer the following questions:
- What is respect?
- What would your definition of respect be now that you have tried to create
a new world?
- How did It feel to leave mother earth because it was not shown proper respect?
- Give five examples of time while working on this project, when you either
felt respect or lack of respect toward you.
- Whom or what should we respect?
- What qualities in your character profile make you a person others will respect?
- How does your flyer describe a colony that other would want to join?
- How does your biosphere respect the original environment of the moon?
- Why is respect necessary?
- How did you demonstrate accurate, honest research?
- Is it possible to create a government that does not show respect for others'
rights? Why?
- How can you keep scientific detail accurate, but still show imagination?
- How do respectful people act?
- How should we how respect for the environment?
- How can we how respect for others?
- What did you do to positively contribute to your colony?
- How do respectful people use persuasion?
- How do respectful people plan a biosphere to meet the needs of many different
people?
- How do respectful people create a government that meets the needs of many
different people?
Web Sites
Extensions:
As an extension we suggest that the students link with another school through e-mail and send e-mail messages to them. We also suggest that that the completed newsletters be mailed, or scanned and sent via computer. The students at the partner school could then evaluate the biospheres and choose which one they would like to join.
Bibliography:
Morowitz, Harold J. Energy Flow in Biology (Oxbow Press ISBN: 0918024137, 1979)
p. 81
Margulis, Lynn & Sagan, Do Microcosmos: Four Billion Years of Evolution
from Our Microbial Ancestors (Summit Books ISBN: 0520210646, 1997) pp. 64-65
Lapo, Audrey Traces of Bygone Biospheres (Mir Publishers, Moscow ISBN: 082,
1984) pp. 34-35
Bradbury, Ian The Biosphere (John Wiley & Sons ISBN: 04719449, 1994)
Davidson, James West The American Nation (8th Grade U.S. Studies Text) (Prentice
Hall ISBN: 0130275999, 1986)
Lockwood, Alan L. Reasoning With Democratic Values (Two Volumes and Manual)
(Teacher’s College Press, Columbi, 1985)
Clarke, Arthur C. Crime On Mars in anthology Quickie Thrillers
(Washington Square Press ISBN: 06, 1974) 184 ClarisWorks Support
Science & Technology. (1996) Making Oxygen on the Moon (- magazine article,
)
Paine PhD, Thomas O. Biological Life Support Systems: Commercial Opportunities
(NASA Conference publication3094, 1990) Author:
ROBERT RICHINS
Created Date :
Oct 30 1997 16:00 PM
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