Recently, I watched The Martian with my kids (13 and 10) for the third time. They love it, especially seeing how the main character, Mark Watney, uses his intelligence and scientific knowledge to survive on Mars. As a parent and educator, it’s a joy to see them realize that knowledge can truly be a life-saving tool. That’s the power of this movie – it teaches that problem-solving, fueled by science and critical thinking, can make the impossible possible.
I always tell my kids that the book is usually better than the movie because reading a book helps you create your own movie in your mind, while watching a movie means seeing the version the director created in his or her mind. And although I don’t mind my kids reading the original version of the book, I know that for teachers using this as a tool, it’s not recommended due to the language. That’s why I recommend the classroom edition of The Martian, which has been adapted for younger readers, making it ideal for middle and high school students.
A Gateway to STEM Learning
The classroom edition keeps the heart of the story – the survival of an astronaut on Mars – but tailors it to younger audiences. With simplified language and glossaries for scientific terms, it opens the door for students to dive into problem-solving using knowledge, much like how Leonardo da Vinci and other great thinkers approached their challenges.
One of the biggest benefits of using The Martian in the classroom is its focus on STEM and critical thinking. Students witness how Watney grows food on Mars, manages life support systems with limited resources, and communicates with Earth. These situations demonstrate the real-world application of scientific knowledge, making subjects like chemistry, biology, and physics come alive.
Many times in both the book and the movie, we see how Watney solves problems using simple knowledge of math, science, and physics. This has been a teachable moment for me and my kids because they often ask, “When in my life am I going to need this knowledge?” I always tell them that science, math, and chemistry are everywhere, and The Martian beautifully illustrates this. That’s the magic of this movie – it shows how these skills can be life-saving in extreme situations and invaluable in everyday life.
When I cook with my kids, I always mention how the processes relate to chemistry and physics, from the way heat transforms food to the interactions between ingredients. It’s important to me that they see the connections between what they learn in school and real-life tasks. The Martian reinforces this idea, showing them how problem-solving and scientific knowledge are not just for tests or labs but can be crucial in everyday tasks, sometimes even in life-saving ways.
Bridging Language Barriers with AI and Technology
The original version of The Martian is available in multiple languages, but as far as I know, the classroom version is only available in English. This can pose a challenge for bilingual or ESL classrooms. However, that doesn’t mean teachers can’t make the content accessible for emerging bilingual students. I recommend using technology to bridge the gap. By incorporating scaffolding techniques and leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT or Notebook LM from Google, educators can tailor the content to fit their students’ needs and ensure they grasp the valuable knowledge the book offers.
Here are some strategies for using The Martian with bilingual students:
- AI-Powered Translation and Summarization: Teachers can use AI tools like ChatGPT to generate simplified summaries of each chapter in Spanish or help explain complex scientific terms. This makes the material more digestible for students still mastering English.
- Bilingual Glossaries: AI tools can help create bilingual glossaries for key vocabulary in both English and Spanish, helping students build their scientific vocabulary in two languages.
- Creative Problem-Solving Activities: By using Notebook LM, teachers can create interactive problem-solving exercises where students apply the scientific concepts in the book to real-world scenarios. For instance, students can design their own Martian habitats or calculate how long resources would last on a Mars mission.
- AI-Assisted Discussions: Students can use voice-enabled AI platforms to practice discussing the book’s scientific ideas in English, with real-time feedback on their language use, pronunciation, and grammar. This kind of scaffolded practice builds both language and content knowledge.
Fostering a Growth Mindset through Science and Artificial Intelligence
The brilliance of using The Martian in the classroom goes beyond just STEM learning. It’s about nurturing a problem-solving mindset. Watney’s determination to use science, creativity, and perseverance to survive mirrors the way we want students to approach challenges in the classroom.
Integrating AI tools helps teachers take this learning a step further by creating customized experiences for bilingual learners. With AI’s assistance, teachers can break down language barriers, ensuring that every student, no matter their language proficiency, has access to the same powerful lessons in problem-solving and creativity.
Another exciting way to use these tools is by asking AI to generate science problems that incorporate specific language or vocabulary students need to learn. These problems can be modeled after the challenges faced by Mark Watney in The Martian as he struggles to survive in Mars’ harsh environment. By doing this, AI tools allow teachers to create activities that mirror real-world problem-solving while reinforcing key scientific concepts. This can make learning not only creative but also highly engaging for students, turning abstract ideas into relatable, hands-on experiences that help them see the value of what they’re learning in a fun and practical way.
Classroom Example: Mars Survival Science – Inspired by The Martian
Grade Level: Fifth Grade
Core Objectives: Students will:
- Understand the basic needs of plants in both Earth and Mars environments (TEKS 5.9A)
- Explain how plants perform photosynthesis and what conditions they require (TEKS 5.9B)
- Design a controlled environment for growing food on Mars
Introduction:
- Read the potato-growing scene from The Martian
- Guide discussion on differences between Earth and Mars:
- Atmospheric pressure (less than 1% of Earth’s)
- Temperature (-63°C average)
- Sunlight (40% weaker than Earth)
- Soil composition (needs modification)
Part 1: Understanding Mars Agriculture Mini-Lab: “Earth vs. Mars Growing Conditions” Students compare growing conditions using simple tools:
- Light meter to measure 100% vs. 60% light (simulating Mars sunlight)
- Temperature readings in and out of a greenhouse
- Basic soil testing kit for comparing regular soil vs. “Mars soil simulant” (mixture of regular soil with iron oxide)
Part 2: Design Challenge Scenario: “You are part of the first Mars science team. Like Mark Watney, you need to grow food, but you have better preparation. Your task is to design a controlled environment to grow potatoes on Mars.”
Student Task: Working in small groups, students will:
- Design a Mars greenhouse addressing:
- Pressure containment (simple diagram)
- Temperature control (heating/cooling system)
- Water recycling (basic water cycle diagram)
- Light management (positioning, supplemental lighting)
- Create a “Martian Soil Enhancement Plan”:
- List necessary soil additions (based on book):
- Earth bacteria
- Organic material
- Water
- Explain why each component is needed
- List necessary soil additions (based on book):
- Calculate Basic Resources (age-appropriate math):
- Water needed for one potato plant
- Growing space required
- Light hours needed
Extension Activities:
- Simple Growth Experiment:
- Grow potato cuttings in different soil mixtures
- Compare growth in full light vs. 60% light (using shade cloth)
- Document growth rates and observations
- Environmental Control Model:
- Build a simple terrarium as a “Mars greenhouse”
- Monitor temperature and humidity
- Record observations about condensation and water cycling
Assessment Tools:
- Design Evaluation Rubric:
- Scientific accuracy of environmental controls
- Understanding of plant needs
- Feasibility of solutions
- Use of evidence from book/science
- Concept Check Questions:
- Why can’t we grow plants directly in Martian soil?
- How do we maintain Earth-like pressure for plants?
- Why do we need bacteria in the soil?
- How does reduced sunlight affect plant growth?
Real-World Connections:
- Compare to actual Mars mission planning by NASA
- Discuss current research in controlled environment agriculture
- Explore Earth applications (greenhouse farming, vertical farming)
Safety Notes:
- Proper handling of soil materials
- Hand washing after soil activities
- Safe terrarium construction
Differentiation:
- Visual aids for environmental factors
- Hands-on options for different learning styles
- Scaled complexity for calculations
- Group roles based on student strengths
Resources Needed:
- Light meters or phone light meter apps
- Basic soil testing kits
- Terrarium materials
- Potato cuttings
- Growing containers
- Shade cloth (40% blocking)
