LIVE INTERACTIVE LEARNING @ YOUR DESKTOP Fingerprints of Life? Extremophiles: It s Just Right Presented by: Rudo Kashiri October 27, 2010
Presented by Rudo Kashiri NASA Explorer Schools
Agenda Searching for Life education overview NASA Connection Astrobiology On-Line Resources Featured lesson: It s Just Right Additional Classroom Activities NASA Education Online Network (NEON)
What s essential for life? 1. Deprived of air, you would die within a A.) few minutes B.) days C.) weeks. 2. Deprived of water, you would die within a A.) few minutes B.) days C.) weeks. 3. Deprived of Food, you would die within a A.) few minutes B.) days C.) weeks.
Question What does it mean to say that finding a habitable planet is sort of like the story of Goldilocks? [Raise your hand an then use a text box to respond below]
NASA and NSF-Funded Research Finds First Potentially Habitable Exoplanet The discovery of a planet with three times the mass of Earth orbiting a nearby star at a distance that places it squarely in the middle of the star's "habitable zone." Image Credit: National Science Foundation. http://www.youtube.com/user/nasatelevision#p/u/6/uqhkfirj_ic
About product Grade level: 5-8 Hands on Curriculum Objective Correlates to National science Standards (Life Science) Resources- On-line Educators Guides Total Project length can take several class periods but we are featuring one lesson Featured lesson: Extremophiles- It s just Right
Astrobiology in your classroom BIG QUESTIONS What Defines Life? What Does Life Look Like? Where Is Life found? What Sustains Life?
What Defines Life? Living Non-living Both
Let s Pause for Questions.
NASA CONNECTION Scientists Search for Life Why are scientists rethinking where life might be found? Might Jupiter's moon Europa contain water beneath the vast ice sheet that covers it? What types of life might be present on other planets in other solar systems?
solar system Where are scientists looking for life? Meteorites Solar Wind
A Look at NASA Research
Fingerprints of Life Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) http://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/ares/education
Fingerprints of life What are biomarkers? What do microbes need to live?
Astromaterials
Antarctica Meteorites
Genesis Solar Wind Sample Collection http://genesismission.jpl.nasa.gov/
Where are we looking for possible past or present life on Mars? Why?
http://curator.jsc.nasa.gov
Where is life found on earth?
Questions What is an extremophile? What are the environmental challenges facing cave organisms? After learning about the conditions under which extremophiles live, do you think it is reasonable to argue that life could probably exist on other planets?
Where is life found? Yellowstone National Park Mono Lake Acid Cave Salt Spring (Canada)
Let s Pause for Questions.
Featured Lesson http://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/education/websites/astrobiologyeducation/classact.htm
Poll Question Have you ever done similar activities that are related to searching of life? A) yes B) no C) unsure
Goals for Activity 1. Introduces students to the concept of life in extreme environments. 2. The lesson examines how temperature is related to the growth and survival of organisms.
Materials 3-4 students per group 4 small bottles 4 balloons 2 packages bakers yeast basin filled with warm tap water basin filled with ice water 2 measuring spoons Measuring cups 2-4 magnifying lens metric rulers 3 thermometers Heating source for warm water
Lesson preparation VOCABULARY Metabolism Microorganism Astrobiology Extremophile Prokaryote Eukaryote Bacteria Archae TERMS Metabolism Homeostasis Growth Response to stimuli Reproduction Adaptation
Let s Pause for Questions.
Mars or Earth?
http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/education-and-outreach/products-andresources/astrobiology-education-poster/
Habitable Planets kepler.nasa.gov/files/mws/habitableplanets.pdf
Planet Atmospheres Choose the correct letter to identify the type of atmosphere possessed by the group of planets. 1. Earth, Venus, and Mars A. Thick B. None C. Thin 2. Mercury, Pluto, and the Moon A. Thick B. None C. Thin 3. Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune A. Thick B. None C. Thin
http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/
http://astrobio.terc.edu/samples/chpt12_act1.html
nai.arc.nasa.gov/library/downloads/erg.pdf
Planet Sizes Place the clip art picture next to the planet group, under the size of those planets in the table. - Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune @ - Mercury, Pluto, and the Moon $ - Earth, Venus, and Mars
Let s Pause for Questions
NASA Explorer Schools Forums One forum for each module http://neon.intronetworks.com/#
NASA Explorer Schools http://explorerschools.nasa.gov NASA-Explorer-Schools@mail.nasa.gov http://neon.intronetworks.com/#
Thank you to the sponsor of tonight's Web Seminar:
http://learningcenter.nsta.org
http://www.elluminate.com
National Science Teachers Association Dr. Francis Q. Eberle, Executive Director Zipporah Miller, Associate Executive Director Conferences and Programs Al Byers, Assistant Executive Director e-learning NSTA Web Seminars Paul Tingler, Director Jeff Layman, Technical Coordinator LIVE INTERACTIVE LEARNING @ YOUR DESKTOP