Landform Lessons: Applying Terrestrial Geography to Mars Landing Site

In this hands-on, STEM integrated workshop, educators will explore the fascinating parallels between Earth's landscapes and the Martian surface to enhance their understanding of planetary geography. Through a progressive series of activities, participants will compare environments and landforms on Earth and Mars, using actual data from spacecraft orbiting Mars to collect evidence and construct conclusions about these terrestrial planets. Then, applying this information, educators will construct multi-layer maps aimed at selecting the most advantageous landing site for a manned mission to the Red Planet. Finally, utilizing an online mapping application, participants will virtually explore their chosen landing site and examine other interesting features on Mars' surface, gaining practical insights into the link between Earth's geographic features, real-world data, and the complex nature that is space exploration. All resources will be shared.