The Challenger Learning Center in Saint Louis is part of the Challenger Learning Center for Space Science Education, an international education organization founded in 1986 by the astronauts’ families lost in the Challenger Tragedy. The local center is one of 50 around the world that allows students to use STEM curriculum in a unique, real-world-inspired, and life-impacting application. Their mission is “to ignite a lifelong interest in science, technology, engineering, and math through simulated space missions and other science education programs.”
On Wednesday, April 17, our fifth-grade students participated in two sessions at the Center: “The Great Rocket Design Challenge” and “Voyage to Mars.” In the rocket session, the students were split into teams to design, budget, build, and test air-powered rockets. After a beginning launch, students troubleshot and problem-solved any issues in their rocket designs, rebuilt them, and noted how the chances impacted their rocket’s flight success. For this STEM challenge, students got to utilize math, programming, and other skills.
Next, the Voyage to Mars is a simulation of a space mission to Mars. For both of these missions, the students experienced a role on a team (data, medical, navigation, communications, probe, remote, life support, isolation) and participated in both the work at Mission Control and on the space station simulator.
“I really enjoyed the field trip, and I learned a lot of new things: learning [a bit about] the job of astronauts and learning how to play the role of Mission Control,” reflects Angela Yang ’31. “My highlight of the field trip was when my partner and I were doing Mission Control. I enjoyed telling people what to do and I also enjoyed working on the mission as an astronaut. Overall it was a very fun experience and I would go again.”
Betsy Branca ’31 agrees. “It was a really fun experience for everyone and I enjoyed connecting more with my classmates.”
Fifth graders, way to immerse yourselves in a galaxy of deeper learning about the objects in our solar system in the context of space travel.
Houston, we have [some] problem solvers!