NOTE: This (and any page with Beta in the title) is intended only for educators who have been selected to test the Remote Sensing Units in the spring and summer of 2023. If you ARE a Beta test educator, then please be sure to check that you only navigate to Beta Test pages. If you ever end up on a different page, then you can navigate back to this page by selecting the Beta Tab in the top menu on any page.
If you are NOT a Beta test educator, then please return to the main PLANETS Homepage by pressing the PLANETS logo at the top of the page. Don't worry, we will release new, improved, free versions of PLANETS for all, later this year.
In this unit, youth learn how we explore other planets and moons remotely by
- Engineering a remote sensing device with basic materials (Engineering Activities P1-A6);
- Exploring actual data from Mars to find out what landforms, terrain, and minerals are there (Science Activities PS1-S3);
- Choosing a landing site for a future rover (Science Activity S4).
Step 1: Choose Your Pathway: Engineering, Science, or Both?
Be sure to read the front matter of the guides, plan your activity schedule, and communicate with families.
- Engineering Educator Guide, Youth Engineering Notebook, and Engineering Kit Materials List.
- Science Educator Guide, Youth Science Notebook, Science Kit Materials List, and Science Background Knowledge.
- Review ways to make connections with families and share this link.
Resources for each activity can be found on the Activity Thumbnails shown in step 2 below.
Step 2: Use Digital Resources to Help Prepare for Teaching. Select the Activity Thumbnails Below to Access Educator Videos, Quick Tips, and Digital Resources
Engineering Activities
Science Activities
Step 3: Quick Links to Helpful Resources
These links are meant to make your life easier by providing easy access to a Master Resource Page and Vocabulary Lists. That way you don't need to try to remember where you saw a given video, PDF, or vocab term.
Step 4: Links for Educators Who Want to Go Beyond PLANETS
If you are looking for more NASA and Space Science Educator Resources, then explore a few here:
To develop deeper planetary science content, explore additional resources such as STEM careers, extension activities, NASA missions.
Careers at NASA - More than Just Astronauts!
eClips video that explores some of the unique career opportunities at NASA.
Exploring Careers @ NASA
Learn about careers at through internships, fellowships, co-op positions, and competitions
- https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/careers/index.html
- https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/career/index.html
Video Highlights from NASA scientists
SME2: Women in STEM
SEEC Space Exploration Educators Conference
This conference at Space Center Houston is for grades kindergarten to 12th – and not just for science teachers! strives to use space to teach across the curriculum. The activities presented can be used for science, language arts, mathematics, history, and more. Attend sessions hosted by the actual scientists and engineers working on exciting endeavors like the International Space Station and explorations of Mars and the planets beyond.Remote Sensing Math
Complete study for remote sensing and mathematical models. Each lesson in this guide is a supplement for teaching mathematical topics. The problems can be used to enhance understanding of the mathematical concept or as an assessment of student mastery.
Citizen Science
NASA Related Lesson Materials
Earth Observatory – Remote Sensing
Introduction and history of remote sensing
NASA Remote Sensing Example: Earth Sciences
Short example of how Dr. Milesi uses satellite remote sensing data to see how human activities are changing our planet.
Imagine Mars
This standards-based, interdisciplinary project takes your students on a mission to Mars and brings them back with a new outlook on community, science and the arts.
Moon Trek
The Lunar Mapping and Modeling Portal (LMMP) is a web-based Portal and a suite of interactive visualization and analysis tools. It allows users to search, view and download mapped lunar data products from past and current lunar missions.
Mars
All NASA Missions
We will pare down for planetary science and remote sensing missions.
NASA Space Music Activities
- We’re NASA and we know it: https://www.space.com/17140-mars-rover-music-video-spoof-lmfao.html
- Space school music: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/activity/space-school-musical/
Cool NASA Videos
Access the full playlist by tapping the 3-bar menu at the top-right of the video.