1. Don Boonstra - sySTEMec LLC Jessica Swann - ASU Mars Education Program September 2014 How to Use Natural Events as NGSS Aligned Teachable Moments

2. Types of Natural Events Hurricanes Tsunamis Forest Fires Sea Level Rise Climate Change Earthquakes Comets Volcanoes Droughts Floods Viral Outbreaks Near-Earth Object impacts Mass Extinctions...

3. Natural Events Are: Relevant to Students’ Lives Highly Engaging Often the answer to “Why do we have to learn this?” Just in Time – Students may be hearing about this in the media Often scary for students.

4. Natural Events Educational Opportunities Thematic organization for teaching Earth and Space Science Structure for taking advantage of current Natural Events to enhance any class Knowledge to reduce fear and to empower

5. Key Questions What is the event? Why does it occur? Where can it happen? What are possible threats and benefits? (Yes, benefits!) What are the probabilities of a range of events (e.g. small hurricanes more common than big)? What can be done to reduce the danger and damage and/or maximize the benefits of an event? These general questions can be focused for each type of event.

6. Key Questions What is the event? Why does it occur? Where can it happen? What are possible threats and benefits? (Yes, benefits!) What are the probabilities of a range of events (e.g. small hurricanes more common than big)? What can be done to reduce the danger and damage and/or maximize the benefits of an event? These general questions can be focused for each type of event.

7. Flexible Formats Deep and Broad Quick and Just in Time And everything in-between!

8. Deep and Broad Natural Events provide engaging inquiry themes for learning course content Multiple class period investigations Investigate Natural Event in depth Use knowledge to propose strategies to mitigate damage

9. Quick and Just in Time Use current natural events to energize and enhance learning of core content Use just one class period Single groups as science reporters – “news board” report, “news cast”, blog Whole class engagement – “news board” reports, “news casts”, blogs

10. NGSS Alignment NGSS CORE & COMPONENT QUESTIONSINSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES How do Earth’s surface processes and human activities affect each other? NGSS Core Idea ESS3: Earth and Human Activity Students will be able to How do natural hazards affect individuals and societies? NGSS Core Idea ESS3.B: Natural Hazards IO1: Use a model to explain a natural event or hazard and their impacts on the stability of the environment and populations IO2: Investigate and describe viable methods to minimize impacts and maximize benefits of natural events

11. Instructional Objective Students will be able Learning Outcomes Students will demonstrate the measurable abilities Standards Students will address IO1: Use a model to explain a natural event or hazard and their impacts on the stability of the environment and populations LO1a. to use a model to describe the natural event or hazard and the frequency of the occurrence LO1b. to use credible sources for research and describe impacts on the environment and populations DISCIPLINARY CORE IDEA: ESS3.B: Natural Hazards PRACTICES: 1. Developing and Using Models 2. Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions 3. Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information CROSSCUTTING CONCEPTS: 1. Patterns 2. Scale, Proportion, and Quantity 3. Cause and Effect 4. Stability and Change Objectives, Outcomes and DCIs

12. Instructional Objective Students will be able Learning Outcomes Students will demonstrate the measurable abilities Standards Students will address IO2: Investigate and describe viable methods to minimize impacts and maximize benefits of natural events LO2a: to describe mitigation efforts on the environment and populations LO2b: to use credible sources to research mitigation efforts on the environment and populations DISCIPLINARY CORE IDEA: ESS3.B: Natural Hazards PRACTICES: 1. Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions 2. Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information CROSSCUTTING CONCEPTS: 1. Cause and Effect 2. Structure and Function Objectives, Outcomes and DCIs

13. WHAT? Your Natural Event doesn’t fit ESS3? NGSS CORE & COMPONENT QUESTIONS How do Earth’s surface processes and human activities affect each other? NGSS Core Idea ESS3: Earth and Human Activity How do natural hazards affect individuals and societies? NGSS Core Idea ESS3.B: Natural Hazards No Worries!

14. Comet Siding Spring and Mars NGSS CORE & COMPONENT QUESTIONS What is the universe, and what is Earth’s place in it? NGSS Core Question ESS1: Earth’s Place in the Universe ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System: What are predictable patterns caused by Earth’s movement in the solar system? How can one explain and predict interactions between objects and within systems of objects ? NGSS Core Question PS2: Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions. PS2.B: Types of Interactions: What underlying forces explain the variety of interactions observed

15. Lesson Alignments to Common Core and 21 st Century Skills

16. Clarifying Science through Natural Events Example: The Close Encounter between Comet Siding Spring (C/3013 A1) and Mars

17. Lesson Engagement Step 1: Engage (~20 minutes) – Hand out Comet Siding Spring and Mars and Learning About the Close Encounter between Mars and Comet Siding Spring. – Ask students to read Comet Siding Spring and Mars carefully and work as a group to record what they know about comets and what they would need to learn to answer the Important questions on Learning About the Close Encounter between Mars and Comet Siding Spring. – Have groups share what they know about comets and record on white board. – Have groups share what they would need to learn and record on white board.

18. Comet Siding Spring and Mars Student Sheet 1: Comet Siding Spring and Mars On Sunday, October 19, 2014 Comet 'Siding Spring' will make a close fly-by of Mars. The comet’s closest approach will be at 11:28 am (PT), 12:28 pm (MT), 1:28 pm (CT), 2:28 pm (ET).

20. Comet Siding Spring and Mars Current estimates are that Siding Spring will be only ~82,000 miles (132,000 km) from the surface of Mars. To give some perspective, our Moon is about 240,000 miles (385,000 km) from Earth – 3 X the distance Comet Siding Spring will be from Mars! At the scale of our Solar System, Comet Siding Spring will be very, very close to Mar s!

21. Comet Siding Spring and Mars The comet will not hit Mars, but the cloud of dust particles surrounding the comet's nucleus (called the coma) may be big enough to envelop Mars and therefore the spacecraft orbiting it. Five orbiters are currently active at Mars: 3 NASA orbiters, 1 from European (ESA), and 1 from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). In addition, NASA has two rovers on the surface of Mars, Opportunity and Curiosity. Information primarily from NASA Mars Education (http://mars.nasa.gov/comets/sidingspring/) September 20, 2014.

22. Student Sheet 2: Learning About the Close Encounter between Mars and Comet Siding Spring What do you know about comets? (This is the interactive part...) Comet Siding Spring and Mars

23. Student Sheet 2: Learning About the Close Encounter between Mars and Comet Siding Spring Important Questions 1.How could Comet Siding Spring affect Mars, Martian satellites, or Earth? 2.What are the potential threats or benefits? What would I need to learn to answer the Important Questions? (This is the interactive part...) Comet Siding Spring and Mars

24. Explore Step 2: Explore (~25 minutes) Students do research using credible, trusted sources Teacher Tip: If you have sufficient time, it would be ideal for students to spend more time researching the event. In this case students would find out about: the origin of this comet the structure of the solar system the structure of comets, orbits and much more.

25. Explore Today, you will be getting your information from our credible, trusted NASA source... Dr. Richard Zurek!