< Water in Extreme Environments

Full Educator Guides

How to Teach These Units

Take a little time to prepare and get ready to teach. The pages linked below give you an easy-to-follow checklist and resources that get you prepared for facilitating PLANETS activities.

6. Destination Water: Choose a Potential Water Reservoir to Explore

Learners combine what they have learned to propose an extraterrestrial water reservoir to explore for life.

Guiding Question

Besides Earth, where in the solar system is most likely to have life?

Activity Downloads

Activity Timing

10 MIN. Get Ready & Team Up

25 MIN. Choose a Reservoir

10 MIN. Reflect

45 MIN. TOTAL

Setup: Prep Time 30 min

  • Invite guests to the Science Share-Out in Activity 7.

*See Materials & Preparation in the Educator Guide linked above for full info.

21st Century Skills

  • Collaboration
  • Communication
  • Critical Thinking

Science Practices

  • Constructing Explanations

Learners Will Do

  • Combine the information they have learned in the previous activities to choose a potential water reservoir to explore.

Learners Will Know

  • Scientists must consider a lot of factors when choosing a place to study.

Connecting Across Activities

  • Activity 5: Water in the Solar System: Last time, learners explored the different reservoirs of water on planetary bodies in the solar system.
  • Activity 6: Choose a Potential Water Reservoir to Explore: Today, learners combine what they have learned to propose an extraterrestrial water reservoir to explore for life.
  • Activity 7: Science Share-Out: Next time, learners recommend a water reservoir to explore.

NASA Eyes on the Solar System app

Use the online interactive Eyes on the Solar System. As needed, use NISE’s Exploring the Solar System: Pocket Solar System or Solar System in Sound instead.

Related Video

Water in the Solar System

Level Up! (Optional)

In the Educator Guide, you will see “Level Up!” Sections. These include great tips and activities that build and extend STEM and 21st Century skills, and create stronger connections between educators, youth, and families. They typically take a little extra time, so please plan accordingly.

  • Ask this story prompt question: Can you tell a story about a time you had to locate certain living things–plants, animals, or something else? (Possible responses include gathering plants, hunting, fishing, and birdwatching.) Have learners share with a partner (note that the sharing can take forms other than speaking aloud). (20 min.)
  • Tell learners, if anyone asks them what they did today, they can tell them “We thought about where to explore water in the solar system.” (5 min.)
  • Invite family and community members to participate in the Science Share-Out by sharing their stories and expertise. (25 min.)