Lost on the Moon
Brainstorming & Consensus Building Activity
Social-Emotional Learning
Team activities can be powerful tools for social-emotional learning by fostering collaboration, communication, and empathy. Through challenges, role-playing, or discussions, teams can practice essential skills like creative problem-solving, navigating conflict, and understanding different perspectives. With a focus on reflection and connecting these skills to real-world situations, team activities can become springboards for building social and emotional intelligence.
Brainstorming & Consensus Building Activity
See the Sourcebook for Teaching Science, section 5.4
“You are members of a scientific team bound for a permanent research station on the surface of the Moon. Unfortunately, your lunar craft malfunctions, forcing an emergency landing in Mare Crisium, approximately 300 km from the research station at Mare Serenitatis. Both you and the research station are currently on the lighted surface of the Moon. During the landing process, much of the equipment aboard has been damaged, and since survival depends on reaching the research station, only the most critical items must be chosen for the trek. Below you will find a list of the 15 items left intact following the emergency landing. As a group, you must reach consensus regarding the relative importance of these items in your mission to reach help at the research station.”
box of matches
10 kg dehydrated food
50m of nylon rope
parachute silk
portable heating unit
two 45 caliber pistols
case of dehydrated milk
two 100kg tanks of oxygen
stellar map
life raft
magnetic compass
traditional signal flares
first aid kit
solar-powered FM radio
10 liters of water
(1) Analysis: Review the maps, photos, movies and data on the Moon (below). Record the similarities and differences between the Earth and the Moon with respect to gravity, atmosphere, lighting, radiation, magnetic field, visibility, surface, etc.
(2) Brainstorming: Write down as many ideas as possible regarding the potential use of the 15 items for your trek to the research station. At this time, do not discuss or evaluate the merit of these ideas.
(3) Evaluation :Discuss the merits of the ideas presented during the brainstorming session and develop a consensus within your group regarding the relative value of each of the items. Organize the slides from most important to least important.
(4) Share your rankings - Place a “1” by the item you value most, and a “15” by the item you value least, recording the rationale for your ranking. Post Your Team's Rankings
(5) Discussion: Compare your ranking with that of other groups. If there are differences, discuss them, presenting reasoned arguments for your ranking. The instructor will lead this discussion.
(6) Health Standard 4: Interpersonal Communication All students will demonstrate the ability to use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health. Rationale: Positive relationships support the development of healthy attitudes and behaviors. The ability to appropriately convey and receive information, beliefs, and emotions is a skill that enables students to manage risk, conflict, and differences and to promote health.
Lunar Environment
Google Moon - mapping the Moon's surface
