Students in Mr. Showell's Astronomy class at Papillion La Vista High School recently embarked on a virtual journey to Mars, bringing planetary exploration to life in their classroom. The innovative lesson utilized a topographical map of the Red Planet spread across the classroom floor, allowing students to physically walk on a representation of the Martian surface.

This hands-on approach enabled students to engage with various aspects of Mars' geography and environment. As they traversed the map, students worked on practical skills such as distance calculations and identifying latitude and longitude coordinates on the planet. They also learned about significant Martian landmarks and weather patterns.

The activity was designed not only to teach facts about Mars but also to spark students' curiosity about space exploration. Questions posed throughout the exercise encouraged critical thinking and scientific inquiry.

Enhancing the experience, students used their Chromebooks to access actual footage of Mars. This technology integration allowed them to visualize themselves on the planet's surface, creating a more immersive learning environment.

This creative teaching method exemplifies the innovative approaches used at Papillion La Vista High School to make complex scientific concepts engaging and accessible to students. By combining physical activity, technology, and scientific data, Mr. Showell's class has brought the wonders of astronomy down to Earth – or in this case, to Mars.