Getting Started
- Watch the Videos
- Review FAQs, Vocabulary, and Downloads (see below).
- Increase interactivity, links to 21st century skills, and more with Additional Educator Resources
Unit at a Glance
Use this resource to quickly check key learning objectives for this unit. Includes Learning Progressions ~ Press image to see enlargements in a new window.
Overview
Water in Extreme Environments engages youth in collaborative teams to engineer water filters with basic materials, and by playing a game to learn about where water can be found in our solar system.
Vocabulary
Use this list to check terms and definitions for this unit.
Science Snippets
Not a scientist or engineer? That is okay - It takes just a few minutes to get the content you need for supporting youth in this unit. Watch Now.
Access the full playlist by tapping the 3-bar menu at the top-right of the video.
Engineering
Engineering Educator Guide
Grades 6–8 Engineering
8 Activities; 1 hour per activity
Back Pocket Activity Essentials – Engineering
Press image to see enlargements.
What's Included?
- Engineering Educator Guide
- Engineering Journal
- Engineering Journal in Spanish
- Engineering Design Process_Poster
- Engineering Materials List
Overview
Life on Earth requires access to clean water, and as populations grow, the demand for water increases. Youth participating in this unit become water resource engineers as they use the steps of the Engineering Design Process to design creative ways to reuse water.
Engineering Context-Setting Videos for Youth
Show this video during Prep Activity 2 (P2). It is essential to help build context for youth.
How To Videos for Educators
Note: These videos are meant to help educators set up materials. It is recommended that educators DO NOT show the How-To videos to youth in order to promote creativity and encourage multiple solutions to the problem identified in the activity.
Access the full playlist by tapping the 3-bar menu at the top-right of the video.
Science
Science Educator Guide
Grades 6–8 Planetary Science
4 Activities; 1 hour per activity
What's Included?
- Science Educator Guide
- Science Notebook
- Planetary Science Cards
- Poster (web | legal size | large format)
Overview
Youth explore how much, how accessible, and how usable water is on earth and elsewhere in our solar system. They consider if water is potentially habitable on other planetary bodies, and propose a planetary body to explore based on evidence of water.
Back Pocket Activity Essentials – Science
Press image to see enlargements.
Science, Engineering, or STEM?
The PLANETS Science and Engineering modules are complementary and help youth integrate engineering, technology, and science; however, each guide can also stand alone.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources for Educators
- Unit At A Glance
- Learning Progressions
- Back Pocket Activity Essentials
- Tips for Interactivity
- Developing 21st Century Skills
Connect with NASA
Additional Resource Links
Going Beyond the Unit
Purpose: Develop deeper planetary science content. Explore additional resources such as STEM careers, extension activities, NASA missions, etc.
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.
Various activities about Mars and water:
http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/edu_water_ice.php
Use data from Pathfinder and Viking missions to look at canals on Mars:
https://mars.nasa.gov/education/modules/water_activity6.pdf
Lesson plans to look at water and travel to Mars:
http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/63667.htm
Slide show of oceans in the solar system with good photos and information:
https://www.nasa.gov/specials/ocean-worlds/
Information about water in the solar system:
https://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/solar_system/water/water_index.html
Quick little fact sheet about water in the solar system:
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/space_days/activities/iceAndWater/aboutIceWater.pdf
Recent article about earth-like planet with water vapor. Free sign up required.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/09/first-water-found-in-habitable-exoplanets-atmosphere-hubble-kepler-k2-18b/#close
How to mine water from Mars’ surface:
https://www.space.com/24052-incredible-tech-mining-mars-water.html
Information about water on the moon, and other general solar system facts. Click on various topics to learn more:
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/853/how-ingredients-for-water-could-be-made-on-the-surface-of-moon/
Brief video animating what Mars may have looked like with water:
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/955/mars-wet-to-dry-animation/
A simulation of clouds on mars:
https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/ames/a-cloudy-martian-night-through-the-eyes-of-a-supercomputer
A simulation of water on Mars:
https://gizmodo.com/nasas-new-amazing-simulation-of-ancient-mars-looks-jus-1463653703
Alphabetical list of NASA missions:
https://www.nasa.gov/missions
Information on future missions from NASA:
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/?type=future
Lots of videos that address the intersection between space science and K-12 education:
https://sites.nationalacademies.org/SSB/CompletedProjects/SSB_152563
Look at the importance of space education in the classroom:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/2019/07/educator-voice-how-space-education-brings-vibrancy-to-the-classroom/
Various activities that could be accessed by K-12 educators and families:
https://www.spacescience.org/educationresources.php
K-12 activity bringing art to the images of planets:
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/activity/art-the-cosmic-connection/
Artists renditions of water on Mars:
https://www.astrobio.net/also-in-news/mars-planet-lost-oceans-worth-water/
Cool NASA Videos
Access the full playlist by tapping the 3-bar menu at the top-right of the video.