Lesson Plan

Student Population: 6/7/8 graders (on and off grade level, +/- 3 grades)

Unit Goal-Students will name geological features of Warrego Vallis on Mars, use digital image processing and analysis software in preparation to play the Mars Mystery Spot (Array) Game.

Lesson Objective-Students will use NIH Image magnifying glass to write step by step instructions and ratios as multiplication problems to analyze a Viking Orbiter image of Warrego Vallis.

• Anticipatory Set-Students will:
  • View 1 minute Mars briefing clip from videos titled "Live From Mars: COUNTDOWN" OR "Live From Mars: CRUISING BETWEEN THE PLANETS" from the Broadcast components of the Live From Mars project". Alternatively you can use Mars clip embedded in The Plane ts" by BMG.

• Instruction Set-Teacher will:
  • Show video and explain lesson activity/word bank (flatten for your population)on white board.
  • Randomly select 3 students to read student handout aloud.
  • Select one student helper for Demonstration of steps 1b-2b on LCD panel.
  • Check for understanding by having students highlight Magnifying Glass in NIH Image Toolbox
  • Direct and help students to open the lessons image file.
  • Facilitate student use of software tools, analysis and writing task.
  • Turn on background music of Holtz "The Planets".
  • Annotate individual student records as facilitation proceeds.

Guided Practice- Student helper will be directed to go through steps 1b-2b. Students will be helped and encouraged as teacher circulates through understanding check and facilitation.

Closure- Students will be brought together as class. 10 students at a time will be allowed to get up and "schmooz" with other students, asking questions and listening to explanations. Teacher will call for the shut down of the lab 3 minutes before passing bell rings.

Independent Practice- NONE

Materials & Equipment- Access to Mac/s, Student Handout, NIH Image 1.60 or newer, Learner records printed for annotation, Image file of Warrego Vallis on Mars, Music and Video titled "Live From Mars: COUNTDOWN" OR "Live From Mars: CRUISING BETWEEN THE PLANETS" or "The Planets" by BMG", AV hardware.