Mission to Mars: Year-Long Middle School STEM & Engineering Curriculum

Lesson Overview

Transform your classroom into a team of astronauts on a Mission to Mars!

This STEM curriculum begins with Stage 1 team challenges that build teamwork and communication skills. Mission Control then guides your class through Stage 2 engineering design challenges with each unit a progressively more complex design challenge as students arrive at and explore Mars. The final phase is to tackle the Stage 3 Mars Colony project.

Units are aligned to science and math standards along with a different career focus. Each session has an instructional video led by an engineer, editable handouts, and a complete teacher's guide.

Stage 1 - Astronaut Training Badges

This packet includes 18 icebreakers and team-building activities around the theme of space exploration and training like an astronaut! These Stage 1 STEM activities are perfect back-to-school activities and build the 4Cs of STEM.

Stage 2 - Engineering Design Challenges

Students apply math and science to solve an engineering problem related to living, working, to traveling to Mars! Each lesson includes a teacher guide, instructional slides, and editable student handouts:

1. Get to Mars: Straw Rockets Engineering Challenge

2. Land on Mars: Landing Device Engineering Challenge

3. Transport Samples: Rover Engineering Challenge

4. Travel Mars: Rubberband Engineering Challenge

5. Collect Samples: Pneumatic Device Challenge

6. Emergency on Mars: Zipline Challenge

7. Exploring Mars: Wearable Device Challenge

While these activities are intended for classroom settings, the Space Club: Mission to Mars is also included in this bundle for use in informal programs.

Stage 3: Mars Colony Project

Design a colony on Mars! Take your STEM or STEAM classroom or program to the next level with this in-depth engineering design STEM challenge. Students will apply scientific concepts, math skills, critical thinking, research, and engineering design to plan a long-term habitat on Mars. This creative and in-depth project asks students to consider: How will colonists get food? What is the Martian environment like? How do we prevent boredom? The planning guide, based on real NASA technologies, guides students through selecting engineering and mental health considerations while tracking power, budget, and happiness levels.

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