Water on the Moon

The argument that the moon is a dry, desolate place is no longer valid. Secrets the moon has been holding, for perhaps billions of years, are now being revealed to the delight of scientists and space enthusiasts alike.

NASA opened a new chapter in our understanding of the moon. Preliminary data from the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, indicates that the mission successfully uncovered water during the October 9, 2009 impacts. The impact area was into the permanently shadowed region of Cabeus crater near the moon's south pole.

Scientists have long speculated about the source of vast quantities of hydrogen that have been observed at the lunar poles. The LCROSS findings are shedding new light on the question of water, which could be more widespread and in greater quantity than previously suspected.

Permanently shadowed regions could hold a key to the history and evolution of the solar system, much as an ice core sample taken on Earth reveals ancient data. In addition, water and other compounds represent potential resources that could sustain future lunar exploration.

ProQuest has created a BookCart learning activity for your students to use: "Water on the Moon." This BookCart helps expand the existing set of 27 Carts that focus on the typical Earth & Space Science courses of study and textbooks.

Because these BookCarts address the major topics of this course, they're called CourseCarts (Excel listing).

So, Science teachers now have a 21st-Century collection of inquiry-based learning activities that go beyond the textbook in currency and scope. Since each CourseCart includes the best editor-selected relevant and current resources, students won't waste classroom time surfing; and teachers won't have to worry about inappropriate or non-credible results.

These Carts also include essential questions for critical thinking and student directions for the activity. To copy the most current Cart:

• Logon to the eLibrary Science TEACHER EDITION to access BOOKCART EDITOR.
• Click the BOOKCART ADMIN link.
• Click the PROQUEST CARTS tab.
• Review the list of Folders on the left and click "ELS—Earth/Space CourseCarts".
• Scroll down and find "Water on the Moon."
• Click the COPY icon in the ACTIONS column to the right of this title.
• Click RETURN TO MY LOCAL CARTS.
• Note: Repeat this procedure for any other or all of these CourseCarts.

This BookCart can easily be edited for most effective use:

• Click the new BookCart Title with the prefix "COPY OF."
• Delete "Copy of" and then type your first and last name in the AUTHOR boxes.
• Type your initials to fill the required space in the EMAIL box.
• Option: Edit the sample of STUDENT DIRECTIONS in the DESCRIPTION box.
• Edit the ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS to include at least three from your textbook end-of-chapter activities.
• Scroll down and click SAVE.
• Click My Local Carts tab to see your newly edited and ready to use activity.

Use the same procedure to copy another one or the whole set of CourseCarts for Biology. Start by locating the folder in PROQUEST CARTS titled "eLibSci—Biology CourseCarts."

Assign students to write a report of at least 150 words (or a PowerPoint of at least seven slides) that cites at least three resources.

Type "Water and Ice on the Moon" > type "Water or ice or moon" in the Title box > sort the Search Results by DATE.

Student should address at least three of the following essential questions for critical thinking (You can create or substitute others):

• Why is finding water on the Moon so important to future exploration of space?
  
  
• What techniques can be used to convert moon ice to other products important to a moon colony?
  
  
• Why is the creation of a moon colony a high priority for NASA?

Use our custom ProQuest models for written or PowerPoint reports written and PowerPoint-style reports.