Prompt more answers by questioning whether or not there is oxygen or water on the moon and what the weather is like. They should realize that these are the same things they will need to live anywhere. The list should include basic needs such as food, water, shelter, oxygen, and possibly personal needs, such as entertainment. This question may be more difficult. The point of this question is to discuss the distance, orbit and logistical planning involved in traveling to the moon.
Development Have students break into eight or more groups of five students.
Explain to groups that they will be creating a proposal for a trip to their assigned planet. Students will use what they have discovered through research to argue for or against planning a trip to the planet. For those planets that would not appear to sustain life, groups must be creative in trying to find a way to explore the planet, such as landing on one of the planet's moons, putting a space station to orbit the planet, or sending a robotic spacecraft. After finding a creative solution, however, groups may still choose to argue against a mission provided they can back their decision with good reasoning. For example, a group may decide against a mission due to factors such as harmful elements, budget, time, etc.