TVO ILC SNC1P

Assessment for grading of your learning – Unit 3

and land on the surface and the climate and geology of Mars so that space exploration for
humans would be safe.
Unmanned spacecraft have already given us a lot of information about Mars. Unfortunately only
about 1 out of every 3 missions has been successful. The first successful missions were called
flybys in which a passing spacecraft took pictures of the planet. One was called Mariner4 which
sent the first images of Mars back to Earth in July 1965. In 1971 the Soviet Union landed the
first spacecraft on Mars. In the years since, many different spacecraft have collected data about
this planet and will continue to do so to meet the goals of the Mars Exploration Program. NASA
is under presidential orders to land humans on Mars by 2033, and NASA-funded engineers are
studying a way to build potential human habitats there by producing bricks from pressurized
Martian soil.
Groups outside of NASA have also organized themselves. In 2011 Mars One was founded. It is
a group of companies and professionals that aims to establish a permanent human settlement
on Mars. Their plan is to have humans on Mars by 2030.
Another group is SpaceX, was founded in 2002, and it manufactures and launches advanced
rockets and spacecraft. It’s plan is to revolutionize space technology, with the ultimate goal of
enabling people to live on other planets.
It is an exciting time in space exploration. Would you travel to space?
Task 1: Personal Reflections and Presentation
Before you begin your task, take some time to reflect on your own thoughts about space
exploration, and the information you have learned in this unit. Answer all questions in full
sentences.

1. Do you think that the Canadian government spending millions of dollars on our space
program is a good use of money?
2. What are some of the benefits of a space program? What are some of the negatives of a
program?
3. There are many groups throughout the world who are trying to figure out if having a
human colony on another planet is a good idea. What do you think about this?
4. Why would anyone consider setting up a human colony on another planet?
5. What are some of the challenges that must be overcome to living on another planet?
6. Would you consider taking a journey to Mars? Explain.
Task 2: Presentation
Prepare a slide show presentation that will inform your future self about what your mission will
entail. Use the following guidelines for each slide. You will have to do some research, remember
to cite your sources.
Slide 1: A catchy title that inspires you to travel to Mars!
Slide 2: Where am I Going?
● Use images of Mars - at least three showing various features.
TVO ILC SNC1P
Assessment for grading of your learning – Unit 3

● Put a caption on each picture with the source cited.

● Compare where Earth is in the solar system compared to Mars.
Slide 3: How Different is Mars from Earth?
Complete a chart to compare Mars to Earth. Source the cite you obtained your
information from. Include the following items:
● Distance from the sun
● Size (radius distance - from the core to the crust)
● Mass
● Density
● Surface Gravity
● Rotations on axis (time it takes for the planet to spin around once on its
axis)
● Revolutions around the sun
● Temperature at surface
● Natural satellites (eg. moon)
● Atmosphere
Slide 4: How will I get there?
● Consider the type of spacecraft you may travel on. You may use NASA, Mars One or
SpaceX vehicles. Links are in the background information. Source the site you use.
Slide 5: How long will it take for me to get there?
● List in approximate months
Slide 6: What celestial objects might I see on my journey?

● List at least three objects you may see. Use the information you have learned in this unit.
● Include an image of each object with a brief description and with the source cited.

Slide 7: How will I live once I land on Mars?

● Consider the information from the Mars One project regarding technology you may need
and how you may be housed (you will have to do some research on this)
Slide 8: How do I know I am suited for this adventure?
● Think about the traits you have and why they would be beneficial for space travel. Look
at the selection criteria for Mars One. What characteristics do you have that they are
looking for? (you will have to do some research on this)
● Consider looking the selection criteria for Mars One. What characteristics do you have
that they are looking for?
Slide 9: How will my participation in this mission benefit my fellow humans?
● Consider what astronauts learned on our trips to the moon.
● Consider why society needs us to populate another planet.
 TVO ILC SNC1P
Assessment for grading of your learning – Unit 3

Slide 10: I still have so many questions!!!

● List all the questions that your future self may still have. No need to provide
answers at this point.
● Include at least 5 questions.
● Consider the following sentence stems:
○ I wonder…?
○ What if…?
○ Why…?
○ How could…?
○ Who..?
○ Where…?
○ What would happen if…?
○ Why did…?

Success Criteria Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Below Comment

This is worth 10% of Level 1
your course mark

Knowledge and With a high With a With some With limited Did not
Understanding degree of considerable degree of effectiveness demonstrate
● Lists benefits and effectiveness degree of effectiveness or incomplete
risks of a space effectiveness
exploration program
● Describes Mars’
location in the solar
system
● Compares Earth and
Mars characteristics
● Identifies and
describes celestial
objects between
Earth and Mars
● Describes
technology that may
be involved in Mars
Mission

/10

Thinking With a high With a With some With limited Did not
● Demonstrates degree of considerable degree of effectiveness demonstrate
critical thought on effectiveness degree of effectiveness or incomplete
the questions and effectiveness
analyzes the
importance of space
exploration
● Performs research
to investigate
 TVO ILC SNC1P
Assessment for grading of your learning – Unit 3

answers to all
questions with detail
and accuracy
● Generates a variety
of questions.
● Records a list of
sources with
appropriateness
/10

Communication With a high With a With some With limited Did not
● Expresses ideas degree of considerable degree of effectiveness demonstrate
and opinions with effectiveness degree of effectiveness or incomplete
fluency about space effectiveness
exploration and
personal traits
● Uses language is
appropriate for
purpose and
audience
● Creates a
presentation is
formatted
appropriately with all
required information
/10

Application With a high With a With some With limited Did not
degree of considerable degree of effectiveness demonstrate
● Makes connections effectiveness degree of effectiveness or incomplete
between the impacts effectiveness
of space exploration
and benefits to
humans
● Transfers
knowledge of self to
new situations

/10

Strengths: Areas for Improvement: Next Steps:

Total: /40