Website
NASA

Nasa: Orion: Nasa's New Spacecraft on the Journey to Mars

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn all about the spacecraft Orion, which took its first flight to space in December 2014. A trip to Mars is planned next. Learn how its design compares to that of the Apollo, what new technology it has, and what has been done to...
Website
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive: The Mariner Missions

For Students 9th - 10th
This web page contains detailed information on the Mariner 4 spacecraft. The page explains that the Mariner 4 was the first spacecraft to obtain information at close range on Mars. This page also contains information about other Mariner...
Website
Other

Encyclopedia Astronautica: Manned Spacecraft

For Students 9th - 10th
An index of all major manned missions into space. A great resource and starting point.
Unit Plan
NASA

Nasa: 21th Century Explorer: Why Do We Want to Study and Travel to Mars?

For Students 9th - 10th
This article answers some of the most common questions about Mars: Why is it red? Is there water on Mars? What else have scientists discovered from spacecraft that have landed there? Also, visitors can follow links to learn more about...
Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: A Closer Look at Mars

For Students 3rd - 8th
If you look up at the sky on a clear night, you may see a red dot among the stars. This dot is Mars, named in ancient times after the Roman god of war. Although no one has ever visited this red planet, we know a lot about it. This site...
Interactive
NASA

Nasa: Eyes on the Solar System

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Are you ready to ride the Curiosity to the surface of Gale crater? This 3-D environment created with NASA mission data allows students to experience space and time. With this website students can also hop on an asteroid, fly a Voyager...
Graphic
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Photo Gallery: Mars

For Students 9th - 10th
A huge collection of pictures of Mars, including shots from spacecraft and landers. Extensive coverage of controversial features like the "face on Mars" with comparison photos from Viking and Mars Global Surveyor.
Website
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Destination Mars

For Students 9th - 10th
This fascinating site from NPR describes the two missions launched on June 11, 2003 to explore Mars and collect evidence that may help scientists solve the many mysteries of Mars. The site contains vivid pictures and links to many...
Website
NASA

Nasa: Deep Space 2

For Students 9th - 10th
NASA providese an interactive site for kids to learn about the Deep Space 2 mission.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Mars and Jupiter

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore Mars and Jupiter, the fourth and fifth planets from the Sun. They learn some of the unique characteristics of these planets. They also learn how engineers help us learn about these planets with the design and development...
Handout
Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Australian Broadcasting Corporation: News in Science: Mars as You've Never Seen It Before

For Students 9th - 10th
From ABC News in Science, this article charts findings of the Rosetta ("Europe's comet-chasing spacecraft") as it took photographs of Mars from a close-up perspective.
Website
Cosmos 4 kids

Cosmos4 Kids: Space Exploration: Orion and Ares

For Students 3rd - 8th
Find out about NASA's manned space mission, Orion, and its planned launch into space to study Mars and the moon.
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Other

Space Research Institute: Phobos Mission

For Students 9th - 10th
Images of Phobos, taken by the Soviet Phobos mission to Mars, prior to the loss of the spacecraft. Small images do not link to graphic files.
Website
NASA

Nasa Human Research Program: 21st Century Explorer

For Students 9th - 10th
This NASA research program allows students to explore space topics using science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills. Find twelve themes to investigate through video, song, and animation. Also find links to other NASA projects.
Unit Plan
NASA

Nasa: The Space Place

For Students 3rd - 5th
This site from NASA's Space Place is geared towards early elementary learners. It offers detailed instructions for crafts and activities related to space, games and a teacher resource area. Students can also ask an expert at this site.
Website
BBC

Bbc News: Trouble for British Mars Lander

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains the BBC News story on the 2003 European mission to Mars and Britain's race to finish the Beagle 2 lander in time for the trip.
Handout
NASA

Nasa: Missions: Venus: Mariner 5

For Students 9th - 10th
Designed as a backup craft for Mars exploration, Mariner 5 was refurbished for a flyby mission to Venus in 1967. This site provides basic information about the spacecraft and its mission.
Website
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: A Small Step to the Moon, a Giant Leap to Mars

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the article or listen to the story of remembrances of the Apollo program, especially Apollo 11. Explains some of the challenges of sending astronauts to Mars.
Handout
Other

Phy6: De Astronomos a Astronaves

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains four main categories: Astronomy of the Earth's motion in space, Newtonian mechanics, the sun and spaceflight and spacecraft.
Graphic
NASA

Nasa: Welcome to the Planets the Explorers

For Students 9th - 10th
View photographs of space craft and read about their assembly, launching, and where they went.
Handout
NASA

Nasa: Martian Moon Phobos Hip Deep in Powder

For Students 9th - 10th
This press release from NASA, based on data from the Mars Global Survey/Mars Orbiter Camera describes Mars' moon Phobos. Included are small thumbanil images that link to more detailed GIF files.
Handout
Other

Space Today Online: Nasa's Discovery Missions

For Students 9th - 10th
Survey of unmanned Discovery spacecraft missions such as the Mars Pathfinder rover and other past, present, and planned missions. Illustrated.
Graphic
Other

Space Images

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover brilliant, ominous images of our solar system from space exploration's cutting edge technology. Although this is a commercial site that sells these images, they are still educational and fun to look at.
Graphic
Curated OER

Clouds on Mars

For Students 9th - 10th
From ABC News in Science, this article charts findings of the Rosetta ("Europe's comet-chasing spacecraft") as it took photographs of Mars from a close-up perspective.