Lesson 6 of 12 · Space
Experiment⭐ 30 XP🚀 StarbaseMars, the Red Planet
Mars, the Red Planet.
🎯 Your mission
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
⚡ The twist
Up there, the rules of down here stop working.
Mind = Blown
🌟 The light from the closest star (after the sun) takes 4 years to reach you.
Make a hypothesis first
Predict: what would happen on the moon vs. on Earth?
What You'll Learn
Mars is called the Red Planet because iron oxide (rust) covers its surface. Scientists send rovers to Mars to search for evidence of past water and possible microbial life.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Materials Needed
- ball (Earth)
- small ball (moon)
Safety First
- Have an adult check your set-up before you start, and tidy everything away afterwards.
Steps
Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.
Build a scale model of the inner solar system using different-sized balls. Research the relative sizes and distances of the planets.
Observe what happens and describe it in detail.
Record your observations in your science journal with measurements and descriptions.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3Which planet is known as the Red Planet?
Where you see this in real life
Every sunrise and every shadow is this idea in action.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Look at the moon tonight. Notice its shape. Look again in 3 days.
For the dinner table
“If you could visit any planet, which would you pick and why?”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
Ready?
Mars, the Red Planet
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
Full screen — no distractions
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