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K-4th GRADE | 5th-8th GRADE | 9th-12th GRADE | CURRICULUM | RESOURCES

SCHOOL MISSIONS

The Challenger Learning Center provides educational and innovational science and simulated space missions for K-12 students. Each mission scenario provides opportunities for students to develop and implement team building, communication, and problem-solving skills. The CLC curriculum is aligned with Illinois Learning Standards and can be easily integrated with any curriculum.

No Place Like Earth science and space mission for kindergarten-second grade students consists of three forty minute educational endeavors: the Discovery Lab, Engineering Venue Activity (EVA), and Transport Module. In the Discovery Lab, students work with partners to chart the number of sunny days in a month, order the planets, follow lab procedures, use a microscope, study magnets, learn about safety, and so much more. During the EVA activity students follow directions to make paper airplanes and experiment with the principles of flight. Our Athena Transort Module 2 launches us to space as we study the planets and learn why there is no place like Earth. No Place Like Earth missions accommodate 6-48 students and cost $500 (September-May) per mission.

NEW HORIZONS: LOST SATELLITE

New Horizons: Lost Satellite science and space mission for third-fourth grade students consists of three forty minute educational endeavors: the Discovery Lab, Engineering Venue Activity (EVA), and Transport Module. In the Discovery Lab, students work with partners to give a weather forecast, make slime, play Predator-Prey Plinko, examine space food, and much more. During the EVA activity students build Mars habitats and test them for Marsquakes. Our Athena Transport Module 2 launches us to space as we search the Solar System looking for the lost satellite, New Horizons. New Horizons: Lost Satellite missions accommodate 6-48 students and cost $500 (September-May) per mission.

RENDEZVOUS WITH A COMET

In the not too distant future, a team of scientists and engineers (5th-7th grade) are on a daring mission to take an up-close look at a comet as it streaks its way across the galaxy. Their goal is to plot a successful course to rendezvous with the comet, launch a probe to collect scientific data of the object and keep the astronauts safe. They must construct the space probe while plotting the correct intercept course and completing station activities. What seems at first to be a routine exploration is filled with challenges and emergencies. Eash obstacle that stands in the way of a successful mission requires students to work together as a team and problem solve the solution. Rendezvous with a Comet missions can accommodate 16-32 students. Costs per mission range from $500 (September-November), $600 (December-February) to $700 (March-May).

VOYAGE TO MARS

In Earth years, it is 2076. A now routine Voyage to Mars has brought the latest human crew (6th-8th grade) into Martian orbit. Control of the incoming flight has been transferred from Houston's Mission Control to Mars Control at Chryse Station. The crew arriving from Earth on the Mars Transport Vehicle has been specially trained to replace the existing crew of astonauts, which has manned Mars Control for the past two years. After arriving on the Martian surface, the team will collect and analyze a number of planetary samples and data. This information is vital to scientists and explorers for a better understanding of the Red Planet and life in space. Voyage to Mars missions can accommodate 16-32 students. Costs per mission range from $500 (September-November), $600 (December-February) to $700 (March-May).

 

OPERATION: PLANET RESCUE

Contact has been made with an earth-like planet beyond our Solar System. Messages from this planet to do not warn of destruction to Earth, but rather a plea for help as their planet is in distress. In order to help the planet, astronauts and flight controllers (9th-12th grade) must use their earth sciences, biology or chemistry knowledge gained in the classroom to try and save the extra solar planet and possibly even Earth. Participants in this mission take on the roles of Commander and Flight Director as they try and determine the source of the problem for Planet X while completing station tasks and research. Many possibilities exist, but the flight controllers and astronauts must work together to find the one explanation. Operation: Planet Rescue can accommodate 16-28 students. Costs per mission range from $500 (September-November), $600 (December-February) to $700 (March-May).