Mrs. Cisky's students were asked to think about what they know to be true of our Earth, and then apply that knowledge to other planets. Could there be minerals on other planets? Some of the responses are posted here. What do YOU think, and WHY?

Zachary: I think there are rocks and minerals on other planets. The gas giants don't have many, but solid planets have to be made of something. Planets can't be made of just ice and even the gas giants have to have some minerals. space expeditions have brought back rocks and minerals from other planets. This is why I think there are rocks and minerals on other planets.

Danielle: Yes, there are rocks and minerals on other planets. Long ago dust, rock and minerals compressed with other particals to become all the planets.

Jonathan V.: Yes, I do think there are rocks and minerals on other planets, because on Mars there are large, inactive volcanoes. Therefore there must be some ignious rocks. There are probably some sedimentary rocks, too. They have found something that looks like dried up oceans and seas on Mars. That is why I say there are rocks and minerals on other planets.

Stephen S.: Yes, I do think that there are minerals on other planets, because I think that without the minerals, the surface of th eplanets would not be made.

Rachel K.:There are rocks and minerals on the planet Mars. The planet Mars has a solid core just as the earth does. Photographs of the Martian surface show pebbles and cobbles. The geological character of Mars is similar to the earth. While there are no oceans, there are volcanoes having calderas similar to the Hawaiian volcanoes.

Michelle: Yes, I believe there are minerals on other planets. How could you stand on the planet?

Lindsey W.: Yes, there are minerals on other planets because the moon astronauts have brought back rocks and minerals.

James W.: Yes there are minerals on other planets because there is evidense of lakes and canals on the planets as well as sedimentary rock forms in water.

Patty: Do you think there are rocks and minerals on other planets? Yes, because most planets are made up of rocks like Earth.

Sonya: Yes. The United States is sending a lot of satellites to outer space, to other planets. According to the data they have received, there are forms of minerals likely to be in the other planets.