Continuing the Mission

When students leave a Challenger Learning Center, they don't just take away valuable lessons in science, teamwork, and problem solving. They leave with renewed excitement about science and space exploration. To help you continue that feeling back in the classroom, we've collected some of our lessons from other programs that expand on ideas and challenges from each mission.

Rendezvous with a Comet™

• Exploration Yesterday & Today  (404 KB)

  National Science Education Standards A2, E2, G1
  Students will investigate the nature of explorations, past and present, and identify common traits of two very different explorations.

• Payload Rocket  (605 KB)

  National Science Education Standards A1, A2, B2, B3, E1, E2, G1, G2
  In this activity, students will investigate rocket design by constructing a rocket out of a balloon and using it to carry a paper clip payload.

Voyage to Mars™

• Weightlessness  (560 KB)

  National Science Education Standards B2, D3
  

  There is no lack of gravity in space. In fact, it’s gravity that keeps the Space Shuttle in orbit around the Earth. In essence, the Space Shuttle is falling around the Earth. Why then do astronauts have the feeling, and appearance, of weightlessness? In this lesson, students will create models of an astronaut and Space Shuttle to investigate why a falling astronaut feels like he or she is floating.

• What is an Explorer?  (412 KB)

  National Science Education Standards A2, E2
  

  Say the word “explorer” and ask yourself what comes to mind. Likely, you will conjure up visions of noble, courageous men or women battling nature to achieve some challenging goal. But is that really the nature of exploration? In this lesson, students examine the characteristics of explorers. They then create an exploration log to determine if they too posses these qualities and are also explorers.

Return to the Moon™

• How Do We Explore Strange Environments?   (685 KB)

  National Science Education Standards A1, A2, B1, E1, G1
  

  In this activity, student teams will design, sketch, and build a model of a robot to explore a new place. Their robot will have a specific mission, and they must design the model in a way that supports the goals of their mission. When completed, the team will present their model to the class.

• How Far Is Far?  (2034 KB)

  National Science Education Standard D3, AAAS Benchmarks 2B1, 4A2
  

  Students can determine the actual distance to the Sun and the Moon without ever leaving the Earth, and therefore gain a better understanding of the huge distances in the Earth-Sun-Moon system. In order to determine these distances, students apply their understanding of mathematical models in two different ways, using a single mathematical principle.

Encounter Earth™

• Building YSS   (594 KB)

  National Science Education Standards A2, E1
  

  The International Space Station (ISS) is arguably the greatest engineering undertaking of our time. Many limitations and requirements had to be considered in designing the ISS and its individual components, such as size, mass, location, and intended use of each component. This activity will give students a chance to understand the background behind basic design considerations for the ISS or any space station, by designing and building a model of a space station.

• Solar Arrays for the Space Station  (505 KB)

  National Science Education Standards A1, E1, E2
  

  In this activity, students will use models of solar arrays and the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle to determine a safe, effective way of packaging solar arrays to go into space.

• Dangers of Radiation Exposure   (6774 KB)

  National Science Education Standards F5, AAAS Benchmarks 10G, 1C
  

  Radiation can affect living and mechanical things on Earth, as well as in space. By estimating their yearly exposure rate to harmful high-energy radiation and cumulative effects over time, students can evaluate the various sources of radiation that are of greatest concern. Since MESSENGER will be subjected to much more intense radiation near Mercury than what a spacecraft near Earth experiences, students will also discuss how solar radiation can be an important cause of damage and destruction.