This half-day workshop (for 5-12+ grade teachers) would take teachers through a progression of Mars basics, image analysis, and application of learned concepts through cooperative activities. 

• Introduction to Mars presentation:  During this introduction we will progress through the basics of Mars, Earth/Mars comparisons, and current Mars exploration.
  
• Mars Image Analysis:  This activity will provide a bridging context in which your students will experience a current and real-world application of how scientists think using authentic data and how the process of science evolves.  By taking advantage of the inherent excitement of studying Mars, your students will be more motivated to better understand our own planet.  This activity will place students in the role of scientists as they analyze the geological processes that may have taken place using a visible image of the Martian surface taken with the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS).  Discover how your students can their very own image of Mars through the Mars Student Imaging Project.

• Marsbound:  Have you ever wanted to travel to Mars? Have you wondered what goes into the planning of a mission to Mars? In this set of activities, you are going to find out! You and your team have been selected to help NASA design a potential mission to the Martian surface. You must make your recommendation carefully, keeping in mind all the science and engineering considerations that go into planning a successful mission. Just like NASA mission designers, you will have a "catalog" of mission hardware you can choose from. Also, just like NASA mission designers, you will have a budget that you must keep your costs under! Good luck planning your mission to the Red Planet!

• Mystery Planet:  In the future, scientists are hoping to bring back a planetary sample to Earth to study in their laboratories rather than rely on our landers on the surface to study the samples remotely.   Working teams of 2, teams will explore the planetary samples and see what they can discover about the planet based on the evidence in your sample.
  
• Mars Soil Activity:  Soil is a critical component of Earth’s ecosystem. It holds water and nutrients for plants, many of which are eaten by animals – and humans, too! Soil is important to farmers, as the properties of a particular kind of soil determine what crops will grow best in it. Much of our building materials, such as bricks, also come from certain kinds of soil.  This activity is a fun and interactive way to introduce your students to the basics of soil science. By measuring for themselves many of the properties scientists use to characterize soil samples, your students will be better prepared to interpret those properties as used in actual applications.   See how future Mars spacecraft will examine the soil for properties that might indicate how suitable the soil is for life.

• Wrap-up:  Q & A, evaluations, future opportunities for participation, and a distance learning demonstration to showcase ways teachers can participate in Mars education programs.