Resource Library

How will humans grow food on Mars?

Grades 4 to 6, Grades 7 to 9, Grades 10 to 12

In this episode of #AskAbby, we are so excited to have special guests join Astronaut Abby to discuss how plants will be cultivated on Mars!

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Learning Strategies

Infographic Creator

K to 3, Grades 4 to 6, Grades 7 to 9, Grades 10 to 12

The Infographic Creator learning strategy introduces students to a method of presenting data, as well as other information, from an inquiry in a visually interesting, graphic format called an infographic.

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Additional Inquiries

How do plant pigments vary between leaves?

Grades 10 to 12

Students will be introduced to the concept of pigment chromatography and will collaborate to perform an inquiry in which they will separate plant pigments using paper chromatography.

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Additional Inquiries

How do plants know which way to grow in space?

Grades 10 to 12

Students will use a CD Case Seed Viewer to observe how seedlings respond to Earth's gravity and then create systems to mimic a low gravity environment, such as on the International Space Station.

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Additional Inquiries

Where does gas exchange take place in plants?

Grades 7 to 9, Grades 10 to 12

Students will be introduced to the leaf structures of dicots and their role in gas exchange. Students will collaborate to perform an inquiry in which they follow a simple procedure to collect leaf cells samples and compare leaf structures from different plants.

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Videos

Paper and Thin Layer Chromatography | FuseSchool

Grades 7 to 9, Grades 10 to 12

Learn the basics about Paper and Thin Layer Chromatography. What is Chromatography and why is it done?

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Videos

Plants, Tropisms and Hormones (Twig World)

Grades 7 to 9, Grades 10 to 12

Discover the hormones that dictate whether a plant grows downwards with gravity, towards water and nutrients, or upwards towards light.

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Backgrounders

Is There Enough Light on Mars to Grow Plants?

K to 3, Grades 4 to 6, Grades 7 to 9, Grades 10 to 12

Astronauts traveling to Mars will need to grow some of their own food in order to survive and stay healthy. But on Mars will there be enough light to meet the needs of growing plants?

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Backgrounders

Nitrogen and phosphorus cycles

K to 3, Grades 4 to 6, Grades 7 to 9, Grades 10 to 12

Air is made up of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) with small amounts of other gases such as argon and carbon dioxide. It probably then comes as no surprise that nitrogen is important for all organisms as it helps them to live and grow.

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Backgrounders

Soil on Mars

K to 3, Grades 4 to 6, Grades 7 to 9, Grades 10 to 12

Most people do not think twice about soil, but we could not live without it. The plants we eat, and the plants that feed the animals we eat, depend on soil. Plant roots need soil for physical support. Plants also get nutrients from soil, which they need for healthy growth and development. Future astronauts on a long-term mission to Mars will want to grow some food crops to add to their diet of packaged food.

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Videos

Vertical Farming: Is this the Farm of the Future?

Grades 7 to 9, Grades 10 to 12

This video describes how vertical farming works to provide the needs of growing plants. The pros and cons of vertical farming are also highlighted.

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Videos

So You Want to go to Mars? (It's Okay to be Smart)

Grades 7 to 9, Grades 10 to 12

This video by It's Okay to be Smart, describes the effects of the space environment on the human body.

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Learning Strategies

Seeds of Knowledge

K to 3, Grades 4 to 6, Grades 7 to 9, Grades 10 to 12

The Seeds of Knowledge learning strategy offers students a process to practice the skill of making connections by connecting their prior knowledge and learning experiences from previous grades to a new inquiry opportunity, such as the Tomatosphere^™ Seed Investigation.

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Learning Strategies

Making Connections Organizer

K to 3, Grades 4 to 6, Grades 7 to 9, Grades 10 to 12

The Making Connections Organizer learning strategy uses a graphic organizer to help students connect science inquiries to their prior knowledge and experiences, prior inquires and the world at large.

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Skill Look-fors

Questioning

K to 3, Grades 4 to 6, Grades 7 to 9, Grades 10 to 12

The skill of questioning allows students to pursue their ideas and explore the world around them. Being able to ask rich questions about who, what, where, when, why, and how, enables students to construct their knowledge and develop an understanding of concepts and experiences.

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