Launchpad Mission to Mars: 10 Engineering STEM Activities (K-5)
Transform your classroom into a team of astronauts on a Mission to the Moon! This STEM unit of 10 lessons is perfect for elementary STEM classrooms, afterschool programs, or summer camps!
Grades: K-5
Teaching Duration: 1 month
“Used this with my Stage 2 students a couple of years ago. Will be using this again this year. They loved it and a very effective way to introduce the Engineering Design Process to little ones. ”
Lesson Overview
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.
Vivify STEM presents Launchpad: A Mission to Mars
Through interactive sessions, Launchpad students become a team of astronauts challenged to complete 10 missions centered around a Mission to Mars. Each week, students will read a message from Astronaut Alex, who will introduce the activity, provide background context, and connect it to a STEM career. Students will then engage in hands-on activities centered around the engineering design process.
Launchpad curriculum includes 10 STEM challenges:
Meet the Crew: Team Challenges
Astronaut Training: Mars Trivia Game + Astronaut Boot Engineering Challenge
Get to Mars: Straw Rockets Engineering Challenge
Land on Mars*: Landing Device Engineering Challenge
Transport Crew*: Zipline Engineering Challenge
Build a Base: UV Science Experiment + Shelter Engineering Challenge
Build a Rover: Conductivity Science Experiment + Bristlebot Engineering Challenge
Explore Mars: Grabber Engineering Challenge
Entertainment on Mars: Roller coaster Engineering Challenge
Mission Success: Coke Mentos Geyser + Atomic Slime
*Prefer a Moon version? Find Mission to Moon here. Except for *starred activities, most challenges are similar between Mars and Moon versions.
Download includes:
Digital version includes Google Slide journals and instructional videos
Intro to STEM Education
10 STEM Missions following a storyline
Supply list with links
Alignment to NGSS, TEKS (Texas), and CCSS Math
Step-by-step teacher guide with photos
Student mission sheets with real-world connections and photos
Editable Teacher companion slides with videos, vocabulary, storyline, and guide through each design challenge (over 150 slides!)
