Designing a City on Mars?

A WebQuest for 9th-12th Grade Earth and Space Science

Global Mars

Introduction

The planet Earth has become grossly overpopulated. Our resources are abundant and can be shipped, but we are running out of living space. We must start looking to other planets for living space. One planet that is a possibility is Mars. Your job is to look at building a city on Mars. But how? You will look at websites about Mars for information and use the information to plan and design a city. You must have a written plan and a design must be drawn out on paper. You must then prepare a model of the city and present it to the Life on Other Planets Committee (your peers) for review. The committee will evaluate your city model and provide feedback for plan and design cautions or improvements.

So the task, if you and your team of specialists decide to choose it, is to build a city on the planet Mars. What must it have in order to sustain life? Where can you build on the planet? How will you transport resources? Would you live there?

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The Task

Your design team (3 people) will design a life sustaining city on Mars. You will investigate the planet, plan a design and create a model of the city. Your city must include houses, shops, businesses and a way to transport resources needed from Earth. Include any other structures you feel necessary to create your model, but you must explain why you feel they are needed in your city. Don't forget important issues such as: How will you get air? Food? Water? What other essentials will be needed to sustain life? Will your city hold up to any weather or other problems on Mars? Will there be transportation? If so, what kind?

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The Process

You will be chosen to work in teams of four. The team will consist of two researchers and two planners / designers to draw up the plans for the city. All four of you will be creating the model and presenting it to the committee in the end.
Between the four of you, you will choose your roles in the project. When choosing your role, think about what interests you most. Is Mars more appealing or designing a city?
Once your roles have been decided, it is time to proceed with looking at the resources provided for information on Mars and planning / designing a city. Choose two sites to visit for each pair ( design pair will visit two design sites / planet investigation pair will visit two Mars sites ).
The pair that is researching Mars will be looking for important information such as: terrain, location and conditions on the planet.
The plan / design pair will be looking for important informaton such as: building structures, transportation and services for the citiy.
Each pair will use a graphic organizer to put important information about their particular part (planet / city construction).
The two pairs will meet to share the information collected and begin planning the model.
As a team, the four members will create a model of a city that they envision on Mars.
The team will introduce thier city model to the Life on Other Planets Committee (peers) and present key components of the city (transportation, services and housing).

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Evaluation

Students will be evaluated by individual and team participation. Students will also be graded on the information in the graphic organizer, model and presentation to class.

Self / Peer Evaluation
On a scale of 1-4 rate yours and your team mates participation in the project. Place an X in the appropriate box next to the team members name.

(Insert Group Memeber Names Below) 1 = No participation
This person did not get involved in any part of the project, but relied on others for thier grade. 2 = Little participation
This person maybe contributed a little information ( looked at one site or wrote 1 piece of information about thier section), but mostly sat back and remained quiet while the others worked. 3 = More participation
This person was involved in 1 or more sections of the project. They may have wrote all of the information in the graphic organizer or just looked at the websites, but did not help out with the model or did not speak during the presentation. 4 = Strong participation
This person was involved in every portion of the project and was motivated to stay involved throughout all of the parts of the project. They worked on the sites, recorded in the graphic organizer, built the model and was a key member in the presentation.

Group Member Name 1

Group Member Name 2

Group Member Name 3

Group Member Name 4

Team Graphic Organizer, Model and Presentation Evaluation
On a scale of 1-4 teams will be graded on the use and information in the graphic organizer, development of the model and the information and clarity of the presentation. The teacher will put an X in the appropriate box next to the team number.

Graphic Organizer
How well was it chosen and used? What type of information was presented in it? 1 = Beginning
Picked one graphic organizer for both pairs and put in minimal information. The information was not of much use in the goal of the project (making and presenting the model). Picked a bad organizer for the information. 2 = Developing
Picked one or two different graphic organizers for each pair and put one or two pieced of useful information. Most of the information was found quickly and not important in the making and presenting of the model city. Could have chosen a better organizer, but was adequate. 3 = Accomplished
Picked one or two different graphic organizers per pair and put mostly information needed to develope a good model for living on Mars. Some good thought and research was put into the orgaanizer. Good choice of organizer. 4 = Exemplary
Picked one or two different graphic organizers and found alot of key information to use in a very organized manner. There was information found outside of the sites provided and a lot of time and effort shown in the organizer. The organizer chosen was very appropriate for the information.

Team #____

Model
How well was the model thought out? How detailed is the model? Was the model organized or just thrown together?

1 = Beginning
The model made was very basic and was missing at least two of the key components (living space, services or transportation). The model was not very creative or colorful. It looked like it was put together quickly. 2 = Developing
The model was a good base model with at least 2 of the key components (living space, services, transportation). The model had some color, but was still not very creative. The key components were jumbled around and not organized. It had some potential, but it was not quite finished. 3 = Accomplished
The model had all three key components (living space, services and transportation). It was colorful and creative. The model was well put together and organized. A lot of time and effort has been spent on this model. 4 = Exemplary
The model had all three key components (living space, services and transportation). It was colorful and creative. It included things that were not discussed as part of the model and was organized into neighborhoods and shopping districts. Everything was clearly labeled. Much time and effort was put into this model.

Team #____

Presentation
How clear was the information being presented? Was the information relevant to the created city model? How involved was the whole team in the presentation? 1 = Beginning
The presentation had little relevant information about the city. The presenters spoke of only one key component and were very unorganized. They jumped around and missed important topics about the city model. Only one person presented the model, while the others stood around. 2 = Developing
The presentation had two or three relevant points about the city. The presenters spoke of two key components, but were unorganized and jumbled around topics about the city model. There were two speakers presenting, while the other team members stood quietly. 3 = Accomplished
The presentation had all relevant information about the city. The presenters spoke of all key components. There were three or four presenters, but the information was unorganized and they jumped in and interrupted each other. There was good information, however, the presenters threw it in as remembered. 4 = Exemplary
The presentation was clear and consice. It had all relevant material about the city model. All four members worked together as a team and presented all key components plus some information above and beyond the scope of the lesson. The presentation had been clearly rehearsed and practiced. Each person knew when to step in with thier information.

Team #____

Graphic Organizer How well was it chosen and used? What type of information was presented in it?	1 = Beginning Picked one graphic organizer for both pairs and put in minimal information. The information was not of much use in the goal of the project (making and presenting the model). Picked a bad organizer for the information.	2 = Developing Picked one or two different graphic organizers for each pair and put one or two pieced of useful information. Most of the information was found quickly and not important in the making and presenting of the model city. Could have chosen a better organizer, but was adequate.	3 = Accomplished Picked one or two different graphic organizers per pair and put mostly information needed to develope a good model for living on Mars. Some good thought and research was put into the orgaanizer. Good choice of organizer.	4 = Exemplary Picked one or two different graphic organizers and found alot of key information to use in a very organized manner. There was information found outside of the sites provided and a lot of time and effort shown in the organizer. The organizer chosen was very appropriate for the information.
Team #____
Model How well was the model thought out? How detailed is the model? Was the model organized or just thrown together?	1 = Beginning The model made was very basic and was missing at least two of the key components (living space, services or transportation). The model was not very creative or colorful. It looked like it was put together quickly.	2 = Developing The model was a good base model with at least 2 of the key components (living space, services, transportation). The model had some color, but was still not very creative. The key components were jumbled around and not organized. It had some potential, but it was not quite finished.	3 = Accomplished The model had all three key components (living space, services and transportation). It was colorful and creative. The model was well put together and organized. A lot of time and effort has been spent on this model.	4 = Exemplary The model had all three key components (living space, services and transportation). It was colorful and creative. It included things that were not discussed as part of the model and was organized into neighborhoods and shopping districts. Everything was clearly labeled. Much time and effort was put into this model.
Team #____
Presentation How clear was the information being presented? Was the information relevant to the created city model? How involved was the whole team in the presentation?	1 = Beginning The presentation had little relevant information about the city. The presenters spoke of only one key component and were very unorganized. They jumped around and missed important topics about the city model. Only one person presented the model, while the others stood around.	2 = Developing The presentation had two or three relevant points about the city. The presenters spoke of two key components, but were unorganized and jumbled around topics about the city model. There were two speakers presenting, while the other team members stood quietly.	3 = Accomplished The presentation had all relevant information about the city. The presenters spoke of all key components. There were three or four presenters, but the information was unorganized and they jumped in and interrupted each other. There was good information, however, the presenters threw it in as remembered.	4 = Exemplary The presentation was clear and consice. It had all relevant material about the city model. All four members worked together as a team and presented all key components plus some information above and beyond the scope of the lesson. The presentation had been clearly rehearsed and practiced. Each person knew when to step in with thier information.
Team #____

Total Score________

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Conclusion

By the end of this webquest, you will have some valuable information about Mars as a planet. You will also have some valuable information about being a civil engineer. Hopefully, you will come away with what goes into the planning and developing of a city. Who knows, maybe you will be the first civil engineer to plan a city in space. Think of the training you have already done. Are there any other planets you would like to learn about?

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Credits & References

Mars
A variety of information from the planet's profile to exploration. Is there water on Mars? Talk to the Mars team.

Mars Image Center
This site has a variety of images of Mars. It shows volcanoes, weather, landforms and three dimensional images of Mars.

PDS Mars Explorer for the Armchair Astronaut
This site has a map of MarsThe Mars Explorer allows you to get an image map of any area on Mars at a variety of zoom factors, image sizes, and map projections.

Workplace of the Future
Looks at what a future workplace might encorporate into the office.

Building Big
This site has an interactive lab and looks at the building of skyscrapers, dams, tunnels etc.

Centres of Civilization
This site is a thinkquest about past, present and future building of cities.

Mars JPL Image
Image of Mars used in the webquest were found here.
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Last updated on May 4, 2002. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page Back to top

(Insert Group Memeber Names Below)	1 = No participation This person did not get involved in any part of the project, but relied on others for thier grade.	2 = Little participation This person maybe contributed a little information ( looked at one site or wrote 1 piece of information about thier section), but mostly sat back and remained quiet while the others worked.	3 = More participation This person was involved in 1 or more sections of the project. They may have wrote all of the information in the graphic organizer or just looked at the websites, but did not help out with the model or did not speak during the presentation.	4 = Strong participation This person was involved in every portion of the project and was motivated to stay involved throughout all of the parts of the project. They worked on the sites, recorded in the graphic organizer, built the model and was a key member in the presentation.
Group Member Name 1
Group Member Name 2
Group Member Name 3
Group Member Name 4