Colonization 

 


 

 


American Colonies on Mars

 

Introduction

 

The year is 2025.  Earth has been devastated by overpopulation, starvation, and wars.  Nuclear war is threatened by several nations with the United States as the primary target.  The United States has decided to allow qualified people to leave and attempt to build new colonies on Mars.  You and your fellow group members are the leaders of the first 200 member expedition to found a new colony.

 

The Task 

 

 

 

 

 

For this project you will work in groups.There are several aspects to this project.  The first four problems will be solved by your group cooperatively.  You will individually deal with the remaining problem, presenting conclusions that reflect your understanding of what is necessary to have a successful colonial experience.

 

The first four problems need to be addressed before you take off for Mars.  You have free rein here.  Use your imagination.

 

 

 

The Process   

 

 

 

 

You and your group should meet, look over the four problems, and decide on how you will approach them.  All members of the group should do research.  The key here is to break down the research so that there is no duplication of effort.

 

Using the resources on both the computer and in the LMC, the members of the group need to find information about Mars that will help the group make good, valid decisions about the four problems below.  Once you have completed your research, begin to work on the blueprint and deal with the other problems.

 

For problem 1, you will need a poster board for your blueprint.  Problems 2, 3. and 4 should be typed and be in essay form with justification for your decisions.

 

For the individual portion of the project you will be given a choice of three scenarios.  Choose one and complete your answer in essay form.

 

 

The Problems:

 

 

1.  Your group needs to submit a blueprint of the proposed colony.  Using the information you have found, draw what your group sees as a workable colony on Mars.  Consider such things as water needs, living needs, light, etc.

 

2.  Since you are leading a group of 200 people, you need to choose the best 200 you can based on what your needs are.  Draw up a list of the TYPES of jobs and skills required for this mission.  REMEMBER:  you are on your own on Mars.  Choose carefully.

 

3.  Your group needs to decide what essential supplies must be taken in the initial trip to this new colony.  You will have sufficient space for your 200 people.  However, there is limited space available for supplies. You will be living in the international space station while you prepare your colony and will have their facilities, food, and building supplies to use while you build.  Take what you will need for the first year of life on Mars once the colony is established.

 

4.  Because you will be the first colony on Mars, you have the opportunity to decide on a form of government for this colony.  What type of government will work best for the group of 200 and for future space travelers who might join you?  Will it be democratic rule?  A dictatorship? An oligarchy?  How will your colony best survive?

 

 

Individual Problems:        

 

 

 

There are three problems below.  Choose one and solve it.  Your answer should be in essay form and should be complete including your justification for your solution.

 

1.  Fifty unhappy, homesick colonists want to return to earth.  Unfortunately, these are people who have skills you need, but you are fearful that they will poison the attitudes of other colonists.   You need to decide what is best for the colony and write a letter to these people outlining your decision and the reasons for it.

 

2.  Convince the inhabitants of Mars (whom you discovered after you moved in) that the colonists mean them no harm and will respect their culture and heritage.

 

3.  Write a report to the President of the United States evaluating the success or failure of your colony (after one year there).  Do you recommend sending others up to start colonies? 

 

RESOURCES

 

You have many resources available for this project.  Books in the LMC include general reference materials, as well as science books.

 

Online sources to get you started include:

 

http://www.d62.org   (online services)

 

http://www.google.com/   (or other search engines)

 

http://www.nineplanets.org/mars.html

 

http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/Projects/BrowseTheSolarSystem/mars.html

 

http://www.solarviews.com/eng/marssurf.htm

 

http://www-k12.atmos.washington.edu/k12/resources/mars_data-information/mars_overview.html

 

http://www.deepspace.ucsb.edu/ia/nineplanets/mars.html

 

http://www.marsbase.org/characteristics.html

 

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/library/LISTS/ppp_file.html#MARS

 

http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/planets/marspage.html

 

 

EVALUATION

Group Project (80 points)

 

1.  Blueprint makes sense in terms of

         colonists being able to survive.

         Shows thought and creativity    ______/25 points

 

2.  Jobs/skills are well thought out and

         rationale provided makes sense ______/15 points

 

3.  Supplies chosen show regard for

         space and living conditions       ______/15 points

 

4.  Choice of government and basic rights

         show thought and are consistent ______/25 points

                                   

                                                               TOTAL 80 points

INDIVIDUAL ESSAY (40 points)

 

1.  Essay shows consideration of problem

         and insights based on historical

         knowledge                            ______/15 points

 

2.  Solution of problem is creative and

          thoughtful                             ______/10 points

 

3.  Rationale for solution is logical

         and clearly presented           ______/10 points

 

4.  Spelling, grammar, punctuation are

         correct.                                 ______/5 points

 

                                    TOTAL        ______/40 points

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

         Students should come to a greater understanding of the amazing accomplishments of the early American colonists attempting to live in a new, frequently hostile, world.   Comparisons between colonizing space and the US should become evident. 

 


 

 


ILLINOIS STATE LEARNING STANDARDS:

 

1.C.3a-Use information to form, explain, and support questions and predictions.

 

1.C.3d-Summarize and make generalizations from content and relate them to the purpose of the material.

 

3.A.3-Write compositions that contain complete sentences and effective paragraphs using English conventions.

 

3.C.3a-Compose narrative, informative, and persuasive writings for a specified audience.

 

3.C.3b-Use available technology, produce compositions and multimedia works for specified audiences.

 

5.A.3a-Identify appropriate resources to solve problems or answer questions through research.

 

15.E.3b-Explain how laws and government policies establish rules that help an economy function effectively.

 

16.B.3a-Describe how different groups competed for power within the colonies and how that competition led to the development of political institutions during the early national period.

 

16.C.3c-Describe the impact of technology in different parts of the world/universe.

 

17.B.3b-Explain how changes in components of an ecosystem affect the system overall.

 

17.C.3a-Explain how human activity is affected by geographic factors.

 

 

Created by Ann Petelle

Assisted by Donna Hendrickson

Algonquin Middle School