Where students use science investigation to choose a site for a human habitat on the Moon
NASA plans to have humans living and working on the Moon for extended periods of time by the year 2020. This as an exciting time for lunar scientists, engineers, and astronauts who want to continue the exploration of the Moon. However, returning humans to the Moon safely is full of challenges that did not exist, or were unknown, during the Apollo Program. Scientists know a lot more about the activity of the Sun and space weather, and our technology, although advanced, needs to be ready for the challenges of long-duration habitation on the Moon.
How can humans live and work safely on the Moon? In what ways are the Earth and Moon similar/different? What are the requirements for sustaining life? These questions and more are investigated in the ‘Living and Working Safely on the Moon’ (LAWSOM), module located at http://www.newpaltz.edu/secondaryed/. The module, standards driven, Inquiry-based and full of engaging hands-on interdisciplinary investigations in science, mathematics, technology, and language arts, is designed to provide students with the ability to choose acceptable sites on the Moon for a human habitat.
Choices for the lunar habitat location rely on the natural resources that exist on the Moon that can be used to sustain human life, protection from sunlight and space weather caused by solar activity, and is in a position to allow communications with Earth at all times. It is a journey from Earth’s own life-supporting system, to humans living in the hostile environment of the Moon.
Standards-based and focused on misconceptions about the Moon, sixteen teacher guides on topics ranging from basic Earth science to the science of the Moon are included for grades 5-8 and 9-12. Teachers can choose to do one or all of the lessons depending on curricular needs. Each guide includes essential questions, education standards, Five E’s constructivist lessons, engaging inquiry, student handouts, and scientifically valid content. Additional student resources necessary to complete investigations, and additional support material such as videos, maps, and science articles, are referenced or included in each teacher guide.
Each teacher guide with lessons is a stand-alone document and does not require that any other part of the module be used prior to or following any other activity/lesson.
Choose from the following: First on the list below is the link to the lunar content document. The lunar content document is followed by a list of grade-level teacher guides with lessons. Each guide is hot-linked to the listed items below. The guides for grades 5-8 and and 9-12 have the same topics and many of the same activities. However, some of the related articles, readings, and activities are designed for appropriate grade levels.
A. The Lunar Content: This document is a scientifically reviewed piece on everything you ever need to know about the Moon. Reviewers include 17 NASA scientists from NASA Ames, Goddard, Houston, Headquarters, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as well as research scientists from Arizona State University and the USGS.
B. Grades 5-8 Teacher Guides with Lessons
1. Engagement Activities: These are designed to engage students in wanting to learn about the Moon and human habitation
- Requirements for Sustaining Life on Earth
- Student Observations of the Moon
- Why Go Back to the Moon?
- Challenges of Returning Humans to the Moon
2. Earth Environment Activities: Background information needed to understand life-sustaining characteristics of the Earth and the environment.
- Pre-Requisite Understandings of the Earth System
- Solar Energy and the Earth
- Life Sustaining Resources of the Earth System
3. Lunar Environment: Background on the properties and characteristics of the lunar environment in preparation for deciding what things are most important about the Moon when choosing where to build the human habitat.
- Basic Properties and Characteristics of the Moon
- The Moon’s Motion in Space
- Origin of the Moon
- Lunar Mapping
- Solar Radiation and the Moon
- The Lunar Environment
- Resource Mapping of the Moon
4. Earth/Moon Comparisons: Similarities, differences, and how humans can adapt and use lunar resources for humans living and working on the Moon.
- Comparing Earth and Moon
- Choosing a Location for a Human Habitat on the Moon
5. Habitats on the Moon: Fun activities for designing a sustainable human habitat on the Moon
- Selected activities in developing habitats on the Moon are the components of this portion of the module.
C. Grades 9-12 Teacher Guides with Lessons
1. Engagement Activities: These are designed to engage students in wanting to learn about the Moon and human habitation
- Requirements for Sustaining Life on Earth
- Student Observations of the Moon
- Why Go Back to the Moon?
- Challenges of Returning Humans to the Moon
2. Earth Environment Activities: Background information needed to understand life-sustaining characteristics of the Earth and the environment.
- Pre-Requisite Understandings of the Earth System
- Solar Energy and the Earth
- Life Sustaining Resources of the Earth System
3. Lunar Environment: Background on the properties and characteristics of the lunar environment in preparation for deciding what things are most important about the Moon when choosing where to build the human habitat.
- Basic Properties and Characteristics of the Moon
- The Moon’s Motion in Space
- Origin of the Moon
- Lunar Mapping
- Solar Radiation and the Moon
- The Lunar Environment
- Resource Mapping of the Moon
4. Earth/Moon Comparisons: Similarities, differences, and how humans can adapt and use lunar resources for humans living and working on the Moon.
- Comparing Earth and Moon
- Choosing a Location for a Human Habitat on the Moon
5. Habitats on the Moon: Fun activities for designing a sustainable human habitat on the Moon
- Selected activities in developing habitats on the Moon are the components of this portion of the module.