Is There Anyone Out There?

This resource is based upon the quest to discover more about our solar system through space projects such as the European space agency’s aurora programme, and NASA’s curiosity mission seeking to gather evidence of life on the planet Mars. The children take on the role of space scientists or space engineers to discover more about Mars.

Martian Soil

Science topic: Rocks
Type of enquiry: Comparative/fair tests
Keywords: rocks, KS2, Y4

Martian Soil

• Teacher's Notes: Martian Soil (PDF , 1,276kb)
• Children's Sheets: Martian Soil (PDF , 1,208kb)

Looking for evidence of microorganisms

Science topic: Living things and their habitats
Type of enquiry: Comparative/fair tests
Keywords: KS2, Y6, microorganisms

Children consider what life might look like if it exists on Mars and think about how scientists could prove that life was (or ever had been) present. They are then given ‘Martian soil’ samples. They plan and carry out a test to ascertain whether any of them contain microorganisms.

• Teacher's Notes: Looking for evidence of microorganisms (PDF , 1,121kb)
• Children's Sheets: Looking for evidence of microorganisms (PDF , 116kb)

Landscape discussion

Type of enquiry: Research/using secondary sources
Keywords: KS2, cross curricular, geography

Children study images from Mars to note significant features. They compare them with images from Earth to help them to make hypotheses about their formation.

• Teacher's Notes: Landscape discussion (PDF , 320kb)
• Children's Sheets: Landscape discussion (PDF , 283kb)

Investigating craters

Type of enquiry: Comparative/fair tests
Keywords: KS2, cross curricular, geography

Children carry out and evaluate practical tasks to mimic crater formation and consider what information can be gained about meteorites by studying the craters they make.

• Teacher's Notes: Investigating craters (PDF , 367kb)
• Children's Sheets: Investigating craters (PDF , 133kb)

Investigating powdery surfaces

Type of enquiry: Problem solving
Keywords: KS2, cross curricular, geography

Children carry out and evaluate practical tasks to mimic crater formation and discover how meteors expose deeper layers of soil and rock on a planet’s surface making it easier for scientists to collect samples.

• Teacher's Notes: Investigating powdery surfaces (PDF , 321kb)
• Children's Sheets: Investigating powdery surfaces (PDF , 112kb)

Investigating muddy surfaces

Type of enquiry: Problem solving
Keywords: KS2, cross curricular, geography

Children investigate what patterns are left when objects are dropped onto a wet surface. They compare these with images of craters on Mars and discuss whether this is evidence that previously there was water on Mars.

• Teacher's Notes: Investigating muddy surfaces (PDF , 457kb)
• Children's Sheets: Investigating muddy surfaces (PDF , 133kb)

Volcanos and lava

Type of enquiry: Problem solving
Keywords: KS2, cross curricular, geography

Children carry out and evaluate practical tasks to mimic lava flow.

• Teacher's Notes: Volcanos and lava (PDF , 355kb)
• Children's Sheets: Volcanos and lava (PDF , 178kb)

Investigating water channels

Type of enquiry: Problem solving
Keywords: KS2, cross curricular, geography

Children carry out and evaluate practical tasks to mimic the creation of channels and deltas.

• Teacher's Notes: Investigating water channels (PDF , 640kb)
• Children's Sheets: Investigating water channels (PDF , 116kb)

Investigating the best landing site for a Mars rover

Type of enquiry: Research/using secondary sources
Keywords: KS2, cross curricular, geography

Children consider data from the viewpoint of scientists or engineers to identify the best landing site for the rover. They estimate the age of landing sites, identify landscape features such as craters, rocks, deltas, canyons, elevations and interpret scales, data and images. The class debates to decide the most appropriate location.

• Teacher's Notes: Investigating water channels (PDF , 846kb)
• Children's Sheets: Investigating water channels (PDF , 639kb)