Welcome to Tomatosphere!
Over the past eight years, Tomatosphere has evolved into a regular component of the curriculum for more than 11 000 classrooms in Canada and the United States. The Tomatosphere Project Team will continue offering this stellar learning opportunity for 2009 and 2010.
Teachers who wish to register for the fall of 2009 and receive "2009-vintage" seeds can do so now and will be automatically registered for 2010 (unless you let us know of your intention NOT to be involved). Some of the seeds used in 2009 were subjected to "Mars-like" conditions. Seeds for 2010 are on board with Julie Payette (June 13, 2009) from KSC in Florida, to the International Space Station. They will be brought back to Earth from the International Space Station later in 2009.
The basic experiment of Tomatosphere will remain for the next two years; a 'blind test' in which you and your students will not know the treatment of the seeds until completion of the germination process and submission of results. Students will learn how to conduct a scientific experiment and compare the germination rates of the seeds. They may also report on the growth and development of their plants... and may be inspired to pursue further education in science and technology.
Watching these seeds grow will encourage classroom dialogue about the elements of life support requirements for space missions - food, water, oxygen and the need to consume carbon dioxide exhaled by crewmembers. Traveling to and from Mars - the closest planet to Earth - could take almost three years. It's imperative to know how to grow food for the journey there, the stay on Mars and the return journey. The results from your science experiments will help scientists to understand some of the issues related to long-term space travel.
Tomatoes are practical and valuable plants for space applications. They provide wholesome nourishment, as well as purified water through evaporation from their leaves. Today's students are the plant specialists, space scientists and Mars explorers of the future! The technical support staff and even the astronauts for future space travel may be in your classroom today!
The partners in Tomatosphere have developed new optional units for teachers and students - new components that are science-related but also linked to other areas in the curriculum:
- Grades 3-4: How to Feed a Martian - a unit with a nutrition focus for astronauts' trips to the Red Planet
- Grade 6: Surviving on the Red Planet - Recycling breathable air
- Grades 7-8: The Martian environment - a weather station on Mars
- Grades 9-10: The Energy to Survive - nutritional requirements for long duration missions
Tomatosphere is sponsored by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Space Agency, Heinz Canada Ltd, HeinzSeed, Ontario Centres of Excellence, Stokes Seeds and the University of Guelph.
