ROADS on Icy Worlds Companion Course
Welcome to the NESSP Student Challenge Companion Course. This course is organized around the guiding question, “How can we use experiments, models, and rehearsals here on Earth to understand other solar system objects and plan a successful mission to Icy Worlds?” and is tied to the 2021-2022 Student Challenge, ROADS on Icy Worlds. This challenge wrapped up in 2022, but you are still welcome to use its activities and the companion lessons.
Learn more about the ROADS on Icy Worlds Challenge: Challenge Manual
Background reading about icy moons: Why Icy Worlds?
Lesson Organization:
Each lesson plan is organized around the “5E” instructional model. In the 5E approach:
- Students ENGAGE with their current thinking, new noticings, and questions about the phenomenon
- Students EXPLORE the phenomenon, getting direct experience with it
- Students EXPLAIN the phenomenon, focusing on new learning and changes in thinking
- Students ELABORATE on their new learning by applying it to a new situation
- Students EVALUATE their learning, formally or informally
More information about the 5E model can be found here: https://www.knowatom.com/blog/what-is-the-5e-instructional-model
Standards Alignment:
Each lesson includes alignment information for middle and high school Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Many lessons also include information on alignment opportunities for:
- CCSS Mathematics
- CCSS English
- Washington State Learning Standards in Computer Science
- 21st Century Skills
Standards alignment information has been summarized in two formats. Each lesson plan contains detailed standards alignment information.