Welcome to Remote Sensing!

Remote Sensing Unit Cover image collage of a remote sensing device on a planet surface

Youth learn how we explore other planets and moons remotely by: 

  • Engineering a remote sensing device with basic materials (Engineering Activities P1-E7);
  • Exploring actual data from Mars to find out what landforms, terrain, and minerals are there (Science Activities S1-S3);  
  • Choosing a landing site for a future rover (Science Activity S4).

Step 1: Get Your Educator Guides and Materials

  1. Print educator guides.
  2. Print student journals/notebooks.
  3. Buy a kit for the Engineering Unit or gather your own materials from the kit’s content list.

Step 2: Get Ready to Teach - Educator Videos, Quick Tips, and Digital Resources

Press the thumbnails below to see the videos, quick tips, and resources for each activity.

Engineering Activities

Science Activities

Step 3: Improve Teamwork, Collaboration, and Build 21st Century Skills

PLANETS curriculum already supports the development of 21st Century skills. Try our 21st Century Skill strategies to better understand and enhance the process.

  • Collaboration
  • Communication
  • Creativity
  • Critical Thinking

Use our FAQ's to address common questions for Remote Sensing Activities.

Step 4: Going Beyond

Got youth hooked on STEM and space science? Try these endless connections:

Interested in becoming a planetary science educator?