Objective(s)

Students will list resources and services commonly found in the community.
Students will decide which services in the community are essential for their community on Mars.
Students will describe the impact each community service has on the natural environment.

National Standards

Science and Technology: Identify appropriate problems for technological design.
Social Studies: 1.1 Living and working together in families and communitiesEnvironmental Education Guidelines (North American Association for Environmental Education):
Strand 1: Questioning and Analysis; organizing information
Strand 2.3: Humans and Their Societies; change and conflict
Strand 2.4: Environment and Society

Summary

In this lesson, students will identify resources and services in a community and then use the Internet to research various communities and their characteristics.

Technology and/or Materials Needed

• Computers with Internet access
• Handout for each student, "Searching Cities"
• Students should have experience searching the Internet

Implementation Time Frame

Approximately three 45-minute class periods

Activities

As a group, brainstorm a list of services that are commonly found in a community. Record the ideas on the blackboard or overhead transparency.

Next, hand out a copy of "Searching Cities". After reviewing the handout, students will launch the Internet and search for information on various communities.

Once the handouts have been completed and students are logged off the computers, lead discussion and add additional services needed in the community to the list generated at the beginning of class. Have students identify the environmental impact of each of these services. Ask: what kind of waste do they produce? What impact do they have on the land?

Assessment

Students will design a community of 100 people to be built on Mars, following the guidelines of the Mars Millennium Project.
A rubric can be used to evaluate the students use of resources with consideration of environmental impact.

Resources and Related Links

• "Searching Cities" handout
• Mars Millennium Project