My eighth graders are going to Mars! As part of cross-curricular project initiative, the 8th-grade teachers have planned the "Space Colony" project where students will work in each of their core classes toward the common goal of building their own functional colony in Space. Activities include calculating supplies needed (and the most feasible/cost-effective way to get them to space), creating a constitution for the new colony, mapping out the exact location of their colony in proximity to other planets and stars, and presenting the information as an aspiring scientist/entrepreneur.
Before my students can go to space, they first need to "hear" from someone who has done it. Mark Watney (from Andy Weir's The Martian) is a fictional character who survived on Mars all alone with very limited resources. Mark's story will give students a model of what it takes to survive in space, as well as provide the science and space background that students will need to engage in this project. In order for this to happen, my students need copies of the book. A class set of 35 books will allow all of my students to read from a copy as they are in my classroom throughout the day. I have tried to do this incredible project in the past, but it has been very difficult without a class set of books. Your contribution toward a set will help my students as they travel to space!
About my class
My eighth graders are going to Mars! As part of cross-curricular project initiative, the 8th-grade teachers have planned the "Space Colony" project where students will work in each of their core classes toward the common goal of building their own functional colony in Space. Activities include calculating supplies needed (and the most feasible/cost-effective way to get them to space), creating a constitution for the new colony, mapping out the exact location of their colony in proximity to other planets and stars, and presenting the information as an aspiring scientist/entrepreneur.
Before my students can go to space, they first need to "hear" from someone who has done it. Mark Watney (from Andy Weir's The Martian) is a fictional character who survived on Mars all alone with very limited resources. Mark's story will give students a model of what it takes to survive in space, as well as provide the science and space background that students will need to engage in this project. In order for this to happen, my students need copies of the book. A class set of 35 books will allow all of my students to read from a copy as they are in my classroom throughout the day. I have tried to do this incredible project in the past, but it has been very difficult without a class set of books. Your contribution toward a set will help my students as they travel to space!