Marsville

Marsville teaches students in grades 5-6 about the planet Mars, space, technology, science, and mathematics.  Through a series of individual and group activities, students are introduced to the planet Mars and the specific challenges it poses to human colonization.  Students will form teams to create a solution to the specific biological or social problem assigned to them for the Martian Colony.

Faxophon

When a team completes its solution, it will be paired with two other teams from other schools.  These three teams will make-up a Habitat crew.  The habitat crew will be responsible for cooperatively designing and constructing the physical plastic Habitat, which will house them on Mars.  To do this, the teams must communicate their construction plans to each other through written and/or technological means.

Marsville Link-Up

Habitat crews will convene at "Mars" (hosting colleges in NJ) wearing their uniforms and packing specially required lunches.  Each team will also bring 1/3 of their Habitat and, with their Habitat crew, cooperatively erect this "bubble" made of construction plastic and tape, inflated by the air pressure from a floor fan.  In their Habitat, teams will then set up their physical solutions to the specific Martian biological or social system previously assigned to them.  Teams will formally present their solution to the other two teams in their own Habitat and to other Habitat crews.  Next, the teams will address a sudden crisis facing their colony.  Finally, the various Habitats will be physically linked to form Marsville.  All teams will end the day completing their mission logs and receiving certificates of recognition.