Mars in a Moment: Exploring the Red Planet with Kai’s Education
When:
4:00pm, Thursday, 27th March, CDT
3:00pm, Thursday, 27th March, MST
10:00am, Friday. 28th March. NZT
Olivia Yeo
Dr. Cory Gleasman
Mars has captivated humanity’s imagination for centuries. With NASA’s Artemis program paving the way for deeper space exploration, it’s the perfect time to bring the excitement of Mars into the classroom! At Kai’s Education, we’re all about making learning hands-on, interactive, and fun. Through our Mars-themed mats, biomes, and robotics tools like KaiBot and KaiLab (formerly Kai’s Clan), students can engage with the wonders of the Red Planet in meaningful ways.
In this blog post accompanying our webinar, we’ll explore creative ways to incorporate Mars exploration into STEAM learning, including hands-on activities, thought-provoking discussion prompts, and printable resources to bring the Martian experience to life.
The Martian Classroom Experience
- Mars Climate with KaiBot
- Explore the extreme weather conditions of Mars using the KaiBot and our uplift weather lesson plan. This bite-sized activity introduces students to Martian climate patterns while making weather science interactive.
- Create a short video or clip demonstrating how the lesson works in action!
- Mars-Themed Classroom Decor
- Transform your classroom into a Martian base! Use decorations to spark curiosity, from red-tinted landscapes to planetary posters.
- Get creative with KaiBot and KaiLab by integrating them into themed setups. Have your students use paper and coloring pens to create a starry system!
- Rovers on Mars: Servicing the Rover
- Compare real Mars rovers to KaiLab robots! Discuss how robotic exploration helps scientists gather data on Mars.
- Use a hands-on lesson plan where students simulate servicing a Mars rover, troubleshooting issues and optimizing its function.
- Include a mix of graphics showing NASA’s rovers alongside KaiLab’s robotics for comparison.
- Elysium Biome Exploration
- The Elysium Biome on our Mars mats is a fascinating landscape waiting to be explored.
- Guide students to discover the “aha!” moment by navigating to the biome and observing its unique features.
- Provide step-by-step instructions on how to locate the biome within the lesson, as it can be tricky to find.
- Interactive Mars Discussion Prompts
- Get students thinking creatively about Mars with engaging text-based prompts:
- “What type of ecosystem could exist on Mars?”
- “If you discovered a new plant on Mars, what would you name it?” (Use an image from the Elysium Biome to make this tangible for students.)
- “What do you think a Martian would look like?”
- Get students thinking creatively about Mars with engaging text-based prompts:
- Mars Rover Printable Activity
- Bring Mars exploration to life with a hands-on printable Mars rover activity.
- Allow students to build and customize their own paper Mars rovers, learning about the different components and functions as they go.
Bringing Mars to Life in the Classroom
By integrating these Mars-inspired activities, educators can foster curiosity, problem-solving, and STEAM engagement in a fun and meaningful way. Whether coding KaiBot to navigate a Martian landscape or discussing the Artemis program’s goals, students will gain a deeper appreciation for space exploration.
Additionally, we’ll be hosting a Mars in a Moment webinar following our PXR4STEM lesson plan, deep in the depths of our Mars biome, so be sure to come join then.
We’d love to see how you incorporate these activities in your classroom! Share your Mars moments with us on social media and tag @KaisEducation.
Happy exploring from the team at Kai’s Education!
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