Challenger Standards

Return to the Moon ^TM

The year is 2015. For the first time since 1972, a crew of astronauts is returning to the Moon. This time, they plan to stay. Their mission is to establish a permanent base on the Moon to observe and explore, as well as test the feasibility of off-Earth settlements. Navigating their way into lunar orbit, students must construct and launch a probe, and analyze a variety of data gathered from the lunar surface to select a site for establishing the permanent Moon base. Students begin a new era in human planetary explorations during their mission to Return to the Moon.

Supports the following State Science Content Standards

Grades 5: 1a, 1f, 3b, 5b, 5c, 6f, 6g, 6h

Grade 6: 1b, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7g

Grade 7: 4b, 4d, 6d, 6i, 6j, 7a, 7c, 7d, 7e

Grade 8: 1a, 2b, 2d, 2f, 2g, 3d, 4e, 7c, 9e, 9f

Grades 9 - 12: 1b, 1d, 1f, 3c, 4d, 5a, 5d, 9a

Rendezvous with Comet Halley^TM

It is 2061 and Comet Halley is once again entering the inner part of our solar system as it continues its 76-year orbit around the sun. Your mission is to transport a crew to the Space Station orbiting 250 miles above Earth.

From the Space Station you and the crew will plot a course to rendezvous with Comet Halley, assemble a probe, and launch it into the tail of the comet to collect important data for analysis. The observation and analysis of Comet Halley in 1986 were original mission objectives of Challenger’s last flight.

Alignment with State of California Science Standards

Grade Level	Physical Science	Life Science	Earth Science	Investigation & Experimentation
Grade 5	1c. Properties of metals 1g. Properties of matter	2b. Blood circulation	5a. The Sun 5b. Objects in the Solar System 5c. Paths of objects	6b. Testable question 6c. Simple investigation 6f. Use of tools 6g. Record data 6h. Draw conclusions 6i. Report of investigation
Grade 6	3a. Transfer of energy 3d. Heat energy transfer by radiation 6a. Utility of energy	5a. Photosynthesis	4b. Solar radiation energy	7a. Develop a hypothesis 7b. Use of tools 7c. Construct graphs 7d. Report of investigation 7e. Consistency of evidence 7g. Interpret data
Grade 7	6a. Electromagnetic Spectrum 6c. Light wave travel 6d. Use of lenses 6e. White light 6f. Refraction, reflection, absorption of light 6h. Comparison of human and machine joint actions 6j. Contractions of the heart	1d. Photosynthesis 3e. Extinction of a species 5g. Eye and ear functions	4b. Catastrophic events 4g. Geologic time scale	7a. Use of tools 7b. Use resources to collect data 7c. Draw conclusions 7d. Construct model 7e. Report of investigation
Grade 8	1a. Relative position to standard reference point 1b. Average speed 1c. Speed/distance problem-solving 1d, e. Velocity 2f. Mass/force 2g. Gravity in the Solar System 3a. Structure of atoms 3d. States of matter 3f. Periodic table 5e. Acids/bases 8a, b. Density/mass		4e. Objects in the Solar System	9a. Test a hypothesis 9b. Evaluate data 9c. Variables/ controls 9d. Linear graphs 9e. Data graphs 9f. Mathematical relationships

Voyage to Mars ^TM

It is 2076, one hundred years after the landing of Viking I, and a now routine voyage to Mars has brought the latest human crew 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 trained to replace the crew of astronauts that has run Mars Control for the past two years, and to continue its scientific explorations of the Red Planet.

Alignment with State of California Science Standards

Grade Level	Physical Science	Life Science	Earth Science	Investigation & Experimentation
Grade 5	1c. Properties of metals 1d. Periodic table 1g. Properties of matter	2a. Multicellular organisms 2b. Circulatory system 2e. Nutrient transportation 2f. photosynthesis	3b. States of water 3d. Available water 4a. Convection currents 4c. Severe weather 4e. Atmospheric pressure 5b. The Solar System 5c. Paths of planets	6b. Testable question 6c. Conduct investigation 6d. Variables 6f. Use of tools 6g. Record data| 6h. Draw conclusions 6i. Report of investigation
Grade 6	3d. Heat transfer through radiation 6a. Energy conservation	5a. Photosynthesis 5c. Categorizing organism populations	1d,e. Geological events (volcanic) 2a, b. Topography 4b. Solar energy 4d. Convection currents	7a. Develop a hypothesis 7b. Use of tools 7c. Construct graphs 7d. Report on investigation 7e. Consistency of evidence 7f. Read topographical & geological maps 7g. Interpret events
Grade 7	6d. Use of lenses 6e. White light 6f. Refraction, reflection, absorption of light 6h. Comparison of human and machine joint actions 6j. Contractions of the heart	1f. Cell differentiation 3c. Biological evoluation 5g. ear functions	4a. Earth processes 4b. Catastrophic events 4c. Rock cycles 4e. Fossils 4g. Geologic time scale	7a. Tools for testing 7b. Use resources to collect data 7c. Draw conclusions 7d. Read scale models 7e. Report on investigation
Grade 8	1a. Relative position to standard reference point 1b. Average speed 1c. Speed/distance problem-solving 1e, f. Velocity & graphing 2f. Mass/force 2g. Gravity in the Solar System 3a. Structure of atoms 3d. States of matter 3f. Periodic table 5e. Acids/bases 8a, b. Density/mass	6b. Molecules of living organisms	4c. Astronomical unit 4e. Objects in the Solar System	9a. Test a hypothesis 9b. Evaluate data 9c. Variables/ controls 9d. Linear graphs 9e. Data graphs 9f. Mathematical relationships