Name
The Martian - science or science fiction
Topic
Literature, science
Learning time
15 hours and 20 minutes
Designed time
15 hours and 20 minutes
Size of class
30 - 8th graders
Description
students see the film The Martian or read the book it was based on and analyse the science behind it, as well as the psychological and biological implications
Mode of delivery
No mode selected
Aims
to stimulate students' inquisitiveness with regards to science to increase students' motivation to study science to improve critical thinking and problem solving
Outcomes
Find out/discover, Explain, Hypothesise, Appreciate
Editor
loreuab
Derived from
The Martian - science or science fiction by loreuab
Edit
What would you do if you were left on Mars?
360 minutes)
  • Investigate
    120
    18
    0
    students are divided into teams of 3. Each team will receive a different challenge from the ones the character in the Martian has to face: communications, radiation, lack of water, lack of food, mental state. One team will not receive any challenges, its task will be to identify what problems might arise, basically identify all the challenges the other teams have been given. All the teams will be offered, as hypothesis, some basic facts about the situation they are in: left on Mars, what technical equipment was left behind, what food was left. They research their challenge and form a few hypothesis
  • Collaborate
    90
    0
    each team works and analyses each hypothesis the team mates came up with and see if they stand. nothing extremely complicated, since they are only 13-14 year old. the teams debate the possible solutions. Team number 6 analyses the challenges they came up with and prepares emergency solutions in each case. nothing in big detail, age appropriate, just a brief outline.
  • Produce
    60
    18
    2
    each team produces a presentation of their work and shares it with the class. all the presentations are made available to all the teams so they can study them and offer feedback.
  • Read Watch Listen
    90
    18
    0
    all the teams watch/read all the presentations and prepare questions/comments. every team then prepares answers to the questions they have received. team 6 checks the list of challenges and questions against their own and offers their solutions and the emergency plans.
Notes:
Resources linked: 0
The Martian
345 minutes)
  • Read Watch Listen
    180
    18
    0
    students watch the film The Martian, pausing at key scenes, that were vital in their challenges. They write down the differences between the solutions they found/ways to tackle the problems and prepare questions about the science behind some of them, questions they will ask one of the other teams.
  • Discuss
    60
    18
    0
    students present their findings in class and ask their questions. each team is assigned an equal number of questions that they have to research
  • Produce
    45
    18
    1
    all the questions are posted on a Tricider and the members of the teams can input their answers there.
  • Investigate
    60
    18
    0
    each possible answer is analysed in class via a Skype session with specialists who have had access to the tricider.
  • Produce
    0
    a mindmap collecting the questions and all the viable answers/solutions is created online.
Notes:
Resources linked: 0
A bit of profiling to conclude
215 minutes)
  • Discuss
    25
    18
    0
    students discuss the mental/emotional issues that would arise.
  • Practice
    35
    18
    1
    each student is put in the position of being the Martian and fills in a questionnaire about how they would deal with the emotional problems and if they could do so/or not and why/ the questionnaires are anonymous.
  • Produce
    60
    0
    0
    the teacher collects all the questionnaires and prepares a list of the most common problems and the solutions suggested by the students and presents them to the class. the teacher fills in the same questionnaire.
  • Discuss
    35
    18
    0
    in class, the students and teacher discuss the most likely problems and solutions/scenarios which have resulted from the questionnaire
  • Investigate
    15
    18
    0
    everyone is asked to write down three things they learnt about themselves while researching the subject and filling in the questionnaire. if some of the students want to share what they wrote, they are encouraged to, but it will be up to them.
  • Produce
    45
    18
    2
    each student is asked to write three things they learnt about any science issue they have had to deal with. all the ideas are gathered in a padlet where the students can add their ideas from home.
Notes:
Resources linked: 0

Learning Experience

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