Planet X Project
You have been hired by Dr. Drax to design a colony for a recently discovered Planet. The planet has been given the name Planet X for now but it will need to be changed by your team. It is very close to Earth and Drax Corp plans to develop a colony to test if it is safe for human development. Earth is running out of resources and Drax Corp needs to find a new planet that will be the future of human survival. They are hoping this new planet will become the next Earth. Scientists at Drax Corp predict that Earth has only 25 years until it has decimated all of its resources and will no longer be fit for human existence. Drax Corp is challenging you to design a colony on Planet X where human survival will be a possibility. The planet has the same atmosphere and gravitational pull as Earth. The only problem is the fact that the environment is extreme almost everywhere on the planet. The options for the colony include areas that are similar to the Arctic Circle, Death Valley, the Himalayan Mountains or the deep sea.
This assignment has 3 parts. You will be divided into 5 groups. Groups will be encouraged to use the discussion forum in order to correspond with each other from home.
You have been hired by Dr. Drax to design a colony for a recently discovered Planet. The planet has been given the name Planet X for now but it will need to be changed by your team. It is very close to Earth and Drax Corp plans to develop a colony to test if it is safe for human development. Earth is running out of resources and Drax Corp needs to find a new planet that will be the future of human survival. They are hoping this new planet will become the next Earth. Scientists at Drax Corp predict that Earth has only 25 years until it has decimated all of its resources and will no longer be fit for human existence. Drax Corp is challenging you to design a colony on Planet X where human survival will be a possibility. The planet has the same atmosphere and gravitational pull as Earth. The only problem is the fact that the environment is extreme almost everywhere on the planet. The options for the colony include areas that are similar to the Arctic Circle, Death Valley, the Himalayan Mountains or the deep sea.
This assignment has 3 parts. You will be divided into 5 groups. Groups will be encouraged to use the discussion forum in order to correspond with each other from home.
Part One
Your team will need to decide where to put a colony on Planet X. You must research all options and decide which area would be the best choice. You will need to write a paragraph (a rough draft and then a printed final draft) for each of these points:
Your group will be expected to present your argument in front of the class and explain why your idea is the best. If your environment is chosen you will be awarded the Nobel Prize for service to mankind (the students can vote for any group but themselves).
Part Two
Once an area is chosen, teams will be challenged to build a model of the colony. You have the choice between building a model and creating a detailed poster. The model must include: Living areas, recreation areas, shelter from the extreme environment, food/water/oxygen source and resource harvesting area. The more detail you can add, the better. Discuss the materials you may want to use, and Dr. Drax will try to help you gather them (this time resources aren't limitless, so choose something you can obtain easily. You may want to use cardboard, lego, pasta, popsicle sticks, styrofoam, etc).
Your team will need to decide where to put a colony on Planet X. You must research all options and decide which area would be the best choice. You will need to write a paragraph (a rough draft and then a printed final draft) for each of these points:
- Explain how you will overcome obstacles associated with the extreme environment you choose, and provide examples of technology that would assist you (Dr. Drax is a billionaire, so your funds are limitless).
- People don't usually build colonies in difficult places if there is no resource to be used. Decide what sort of resource you will be gathering from the area and explain how you will harvest it. Use your knowledge about your environment to decide upon a reasonable resource.
- Explain how you will overcome obstacles to space exploration. Your colonists will need a way to get to Planet X.
Your group will be expected to present your argument in front of the class and explain why your idea is the best. If your environment is chosen you will be awarded the Nobel Prize for service to mankind (the students can vote for any group but themselves).
Part Two
Once an area is chosen, teams will be challenged to build a model of the colony. You have the choice between building a model and creating a detailed poster. The model must include: Living areas, recreation areas, shelter from the extreme environment, food/water/oxygen source and resource harvesting area. The more detail you can add, the better. Discuss the materials you may want to use, and Dr. Drax will try to help you gather them (this time resources aren't limitless, so choose something you can obtain easily. You may want to use cardboard, lego, pasta, popsicle sticks, styrofoam, etc).