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:
Meet the Crew: Mission Patch + Team hype video
Get to Mars: Straw Rockets Engineering Challenge
Land on Mars: Landing Device Engineering Challenge
Exploring Mars: Wearable Device Challenge
Live from Mars: Mars Matching Game + Live from Mars Report
Collect Samples: Pneumatic Device Challenge
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!
Related Vivify Lessons
Need a year-long space STEM unit for your STEM classroom or engineering elective course? This Mission to Mars bundle includes engineering design challenges building up to a capstone project of building a habitat on Mars!
Click here for supply list and pacing guide!
Grades: 6th - 8th
Teaching Duration: Year-long Curriculum
Become a team of astronauts on a Mission to Mars! This STEM unit of 10 lessons is perfect for elementary STEM classrooms, afterschool programs, or summer camps!
Grades: K-5
Teaching Duration: 1 month
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.
Grades: 5th - 12th
Teaching Duration: 1 month
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