The Martian

When astronauts blast off from the planet Mars, they leave behind Mark Watney, presumed dead after a fierce storm. With only a meager amount of supplies, the stranded visitor must utilize his wits and spirit to find a way to survive on the hostile planet. Meanwhile, back on Earth, members of NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring him home, while his crew mates hatch their own plan for a daring rescue mission.

Media Type: Movie

Genres: Sci-Fi, Drama, Adventure

Educational Topics: Botany, Physics, Engineering, Applied Math, Problem Solving

Grade Level: High School

Key Scene: Growing potatoes in Martian soil, Calculating food rations for survival

Teaching Activity Idea: STEM challenges - Design a Mars habitat using basic resources, Design a supply budget using math constraints.

Discussion Questions: How did the character use science to survive? How did math help the astronaut survive?

Rating: PG-13

Streaming: HBO Max