EA MARS EXPLORERS

Community   6 members

This is the Community of the brave students from the Fifth Grade of Ellinogermaniki Primary School. Starting from September 2018, they managed in April 2019 to visit Mars and create a sustainable living ecosystem! 

Through a creative process of designing, creating, inquiring, experimenting, and exploring, our students used a storytelling platform where they developed and published stories about a future Mars Mission with the aim to develop a sustainable community on Mars. 

The main concept applied in this activity is the use of creativity as a mean to achieve innovative learning in STEM subjects, based on the use of storytelling and the example of a journey to Mars. When implementing the activity to its full extent , forty four (44) didactic hours, a great variety of learning objectives have be achieved, such as:

  • Students learn how to develop models and work with scales/analogies.
  • Students represent the orbital paths of Earth and Mars through group demonstrations and make scale models of the planets and the Solar System.
  • Students explore drawing, visual communication and image making to develop their ideas and concepts.
  • Students learn how to make calculations and graphical representations. Students create storyboards and flipbook-style animations with paper and pencils that depict life in the first Martian community.
  • Students learn how to solve complex problems.
  • Students learn how to collaborate to solve a complex problem. Students learn how to collaborate over distance (for example while they are at home through the platform).
  • Students work with scientists and engineers to learn about the Martian environment, and the challenges it would pose to the first inhabitants.
  • Students explore the planet geology and identify good spots for establishing a human colony. 
  • Students understand the effects of the lower gravity in our body and identify solutions to handle these problems.
  • Students work with 3D design software to create a community on Mars.
  • Students propose solutions on how they will select the first settlers in terms of gender, age, profession etc.
  • Students design and construct models of the spaceships, buildings on Mars, landers and rovers using 3D printers.
  • Students plan and understand the challenges of a trip to Mars and its return to the earth by a spaceship.
  • Students work with scientists, engineers, garden experts, artists and designers to provide food for the Martian community.