Office of Curriculum, Technology, & Assessment

Program Title: Howe About Science – Mission to Mars
Program Length: 30 minutes
Instructor: David Howe
Delivery Method: Satellite via video conferencing
Program Provider: StepStar (tape delayed) Channel 502
Audience: Grades 5-8
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Overview:  “Howe About Science” is an interactive program that provides students with a fun, motivational opportunity to learn science.  A learn-by-doing approach integrates facts with scientific processes, enhances higher order thinking skills and competence in solving problems.  This class will focus on three themes:  Mission to Mars, Investigations in the Rain Forest, and Exploring the Human Body.  Although the themes sound very specific, they allow virtually all of the national science standards to be addressed and provide for exploration and comparison with local issues.  Within each theme, connections can be made that work across various science content areas.

Sessions:

• Session 1: Invent Your Own Tool
• Session 2: Having a Ball on Mars
• Session 3: Solar System Distance
• Session 4: Millions and Billions
• Session 5: Strange New Planet
• Session 6: Alka Seltzer Rockets
• Session 7: Make a Model Rocket
• Session 8: Build a Hovercraft
• Session 9: Balloon Payload
• Session 10: Mars Exploration Rover
• Session 11: Bernoulli’s Principle
• Session 12: Hot Air Balloons
• Session 13: Flowing Water Shapes a Surface
• Session 14: It’s Alive

National Standards Correlation

NATURE OF SCIENCE STANDARDS
Grade 5

Indicator 1: Understand the nature and origin of scientific knowledge.

Note: Mastery is not expected at these grade levels.

Indicator 2: Apply the skills necessary to conduct scientific investigations.

Note: Mastery is not expected at these grade levels

PHYSICAL SCIENCE STANDARDS
3-5 

Indicator 2: Analyze forces, their forms, and their effects on motions.

5. P.2.1. (Knowledge) Identify forces in specific situations that require objects to
interact, change directions, or stop.

Indicator 3: Analyze interactions of energy and matter.
5. P.3.2. (Comprehension) Describe the Sun’s ability to produce energy
in the forms of light and heat.

EARTH/SPACE SCIENCE STANDARDS
3-5

Indicator 2: Analyze essential principles and ideas about the composition and structure of the universe.

5. E.2.1. (Comprehension) Describe the components (Sun, planets and moons) of the solar system

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT, AND SOCIETY STANDARDS
3-5

Indicator 1: Analyze various implications/effects of scientific advancement within the environment and society.

5. S.1.1. (Knowledge) Identify scientific changes that have affected transportation, health,
sanitation and communication.

SOUTH DAKOTA SCIENCE STANDARDS
6-8

NATURE OF SCIENCE STANDARDS
6-8
Indicator 1: Understand the nature and origin of scientific knowledge.
8. N.1.1. (Comprehension) Differentiate among facts, predictions, theory, and
laws/principles in scientific investigations.

EARTH/SPACE SCIENCE STANDARDS
6-8 

Indicator 2: Analyze essential principles and ideas about the composition and structure of the universe.

6. E.2.1. (Knowledge) Identify the organization and relative scale of the solar system

8. E.2.1. (Analysis) Compare celestial bodies within the solar system using composition, size, and orbital motion.

8. E.2.2. (Analysis) Differentiate the influences of the relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun.

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