From Montana to Mars: Using the Journals of Lewis and Clark to Teach Exploration Science for Mars

The most important strategy for the future exploration of Mars is to prepare students and educators for that exploration. 2003 is a teachable year . In 2003 NASA will send two new robotic rover explorers to Mars. 2003 also marks the Bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition. By examining the Lewis and Clark expedition as an analogue, in the context of modern-day exploration to other worlds, students can learn about their home planet as well as about issues central to all exploration. During the past five years, in cooperation with the University of Montana, a Guide for teaching exploration science using the Expedition and Journals of Lewis and Clark as an analogue for Mars, we have prepared an Educator s Guide. Although designed with K-12 students in mind, it was also designed to be adaptable to all levels of education. In this session, the newly-published Guide will be presented and described. One or two activities may also be demonstrated.