Launchpad: Mission to Mars (Informal STEM Club for Elementary)

Lesson Overview

Mission to Mars: Elementary STEM Unit

Transform your classroom into a team of astronauts on a Mission to Mars! This unit includes 10 engineering design challenges that follow a storyline - complete with instructional videos and editable handouts! This unit is perfect for an afterschool STEM club, summer STEM camp, STEM elective, or science classroom!

This STEM curriculum begins with Stage 1 team challenges that build teamwork and communication skills. Astronaut Alex then guides the class through Stage 2 engineering design challenges with each unit a progressively more complex design challenge as students arrive at and explore Mars. Units are aligned to science and math standards along with a different career focus and STEM word of the day such as teamwork, resilience, and leadership.

Over the years of teaching STEM, we found that kids love stories. And what greater story than a thrilling adventure in space? The result is Launchpad, a 10 unit curriculum that launches students into the world of STEM! Read a detailed blog post overview here.

Through interactive sessions, Launchpad students become a team of astronauts challenged to complete 10 missions centered around a Journey to Mars. Each week, students will read a message from Astronaut Alex, who will introduce the activity, provide background context, and connect to a STEM career. Students will then engage in hands-on activities centered around the engineering design process.

Launchpad curriculum includes 10 STEM challenges:

1. Meet the Crew: Team Challenges

2. Astronaut Training*: Mars Trivia Game + Astronaut Boot Engineering Challenge

3. Get to Mars*: Straw Rockets Engineering Challenge

4. Land on Mars: Landing Device Engineering Challenge

5. Transport Crew: Zipline Engineering Challenge

6. Build a Base*: UV Science Experiment + Shelter Engineering Challenge

7. Build a Rover*: Conductivity Science Experiment + Bristlebot Engineering Challenge

8. Explore Mars*: Grabber Engineering Challenge

9. Entertainment on Mars*: Roller Coaster Engineering Challenge

10. Mission Success*: Coke Mentos Geyser + Slimy Celebration

*Prefer a Moon version? Find Mission to Moon here. Note that the *starred activities are similar to those in the Moon version.

The curriculum includes:

• Editable Teacher companion slides with videos, vocabulary, storyline, STEM word of the day, STEM career spotlight, and guide through each design challenge.

• Editable Student Handouts with journal prompt, reflection, and activity

• Intro to STEM Education

• 10 STEM Missions following a story line

• Supply list with links

• Alignment to NGSS and CCSS Math

• Step-by-step teacher guide with photos

• Student mission sheets with real-world connections and photos

Recommended Supply List

• Binder for Curriculum

• Bubble Wrap

• Card Stock

• Cardboard Tubes

• Colored Pencils

• Construction Paper

• Coin cell battery (1.5 or 3V)

• Cotton Balls

• Diet Coke (2L)

• Paper Cup (5 oz)

• Drinking Straws

• Energy Stick

• Fishing Line

• Folder

• Index Cards

• Measuring Tape

• Markers

• Mentos Roll

• Mentos Launcher

• Modeling Clay

• Mounting Tape

• Paper 

• Paper Bag

• Paper Clips

• Pencils

• Ping pong balls

• Pipe Cleaners

• Pitsco Launcher**

• Pitsco Straws**

• Plastic Cup (9 oz)

• Paper Plate (7 - 8”)

• Popsicle Sticks

• Rubber bands

• Scissors

• Spoons

• Tape

• Toothbrushes

• Vibrating motor (1.5 or 3V)

• Washers

• Yarn

**Rocket launcher and straws may be cost prohibitive for some programs. An alternative activity we recommend is our Straw Rockets Challenge. We have a version for grades K-3 or 4-10.