Your students can be part of NASA’s efforts to return humans to the Moon to stay by joining a teacher-led student global science experiment, learning activity and inspirational project-based learning challenge to see who can grow the best crops using lunar regolith simulant.
About the program
NASA Space Grant Plant the Moon Challenge project is a special program expansion of the Plant the Moon Challenge (PTMC) developed by the Institute of Competition Sciences (ICS). The project is tied to Artemis, NASA’s mission to return to the Moon. Participating educators receive a PTMC Activity Kit for each team of about ten students including lunar regolith simulant, a digital Project Guide, a pH meter, 10 N95 masks, and a $100 materials stipend for each kit. Student groups work together to design their plant growth experiments using the simulant. Experiment variables may include the plant growth setup structure, amount of water used, and nutrients added to the regolith simulant. Teacher-advised teams use the Project Guide to define their plant growth experiments. The grow period is eight weeks from February 5, 2024, through March 31, 2024. For two weeks before the grow period, throughout the grow period, and for two weeks after the grow period, teams are engaged in weekly activities and virtual events that supplement their hands-on project activities with STEM learning activities connecting them with NASA Artemis-related speakers, virtual tours and content.
Participants can be schools and organizations that work with middle or high school students. Informal organizations such as, but not limited to, Boys and Girls Clubs, 4H and Future Farmers of America may also apply. The project has broad appeal to science, biology, botany, earth science, and agricultural learning among other disciplines. A key goal for the NASA Space Grant Plant the Moon Challenge project is to expand the challenge to underrepresented and underserved middle and high school students.
Professional Development
Five professional development sessions of about two hours each will be offered virtually for participating educators between November and April. In addition to the educator sessions, Plant The Moon staff and state Space Grant coordinators will be in regular communication with the educators throughout the project and available to assist and answer questions via email, Zoom/virtual sessions, and in-person by arrangement. Educators will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the Challenge that will include a statement of PD hours to potentially use for recertification purposes.
Experiential Prizes for Winning Teams
Up to eight state team winners will receive an in-state STEM experience with some expenses covered. A best overall middle and high school team from each state will compete in a regional selection for the top regional prize. The regional prize for the winning students and their teachers at the middle school level and at the high school level will be an expense-covered trip to Kennedy Space Center for the Visitor Center Complex experience, including a bus tour to the Saturn V Complex. While at KSC, the top winning teams will do a presentation on their projects and be awarded their prize certificates at a ceremony which will include NASA and Space Grant invitees.
Application Information:
Opens: September 1, 2023
Closes: October 10, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. ET
