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Astrobiobound! The Search for Life in the Solar System
NEW - NGSS and CCSS Designed and Aligned!
Astrobiobound is aligned and designed for the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) and CCSS (Common Core State Standards). In addition, students will practice and build 21st Century Skills during this simulation. Astrobiobound will help students see how science and systems engineering are integrated to achieve a focused scientific goal.
Students will create a space mission which requires them to balance the return of their science data with engineering limitations such as power, mass and budget. Risk factors play a role and will add to the excitement in this interactive mission planning activity.
Astrobiobound will engage students by giving them the opportunity to identify an astrobiologically significant target of interest and allowing them to plan their own NASA mission within in our Solar System. This simulation follows the same considerations and challenges facing NASA scientists and engineers as they search for life in our Solar System and as they try to answer this compelling question, "Are we Alone?".
Astrobiobound MS Alignment DocumentAstrobiobound HS Alignment Document
Resources for NGSS Reflections:
NGSS Appendices:
Appendix F – Science and Engineering Practices in NGSS
Appendix G – Crosscutting Concepts
Appendix H – Understanding the Scientific Enterprise: The Nature of Science in the Next Generation Science Standards
8.5 x 11 Printable Checksheet
NGSS PracticesNGSS Disciplinary Core IdeasNGSS Crosscutting ConceptsNGSS Nature of Science
11 x 17 Classroom Checksheet Poster:
NGSS PracticesNGSS Disciplinary Core IdeasNGSS Crosscutting ConceptsNGSS Nature of Science