Space Club: Mission to Mars (Informal STEM Club for Middle School)

Updated: March 20, 2025

  • Type: STEM Curriculum

  • Grade Level: 5 - 8

Looking for a complete STEM curriculum that includes hands-on engineering design, real-world connections, science, and math connections all centered around one theme? Look no further with our Space Club: Mission to Mars curriculum! Read a detailed blog post overview here.

These lessons are perfect for upper elementary and middle school. The instructional videos, storyline, and easy-to-follow design challenges make them perfect for an after school club, summer camp, or enrichment learning.

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. Space Club 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. 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. This unit pairs well with the Mars Colony Project. Find the bundle here for a semester-long curriculum!

Mission to Mars STEM curriculum includes:

  1. Meet the Crew: Mission Patch + Team hype video

  2. Get to Mars: Straw Rockets Engineering Challenge

  3. Land on Mars: Landing Device Engineering Challenge

  4. Exploring Mars: Wearable Device Challenge

  5. Live from Mars: Mars Matching Game + Live from Mars Report

  6. Collect Samples: Pneumatic Device Challenge

  7. Transport Samples: Rover Engineering Challenge

Get Supplies: Purchase a supply kit from Pitsco Education or download the curriculum for a full supply list.

Get handouts and instructional slides: Create a free account on the Cosmic Portal to access editable student handouts, mission videos, teacher slides, on-demand training, and more to support this unit!

 

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