ESC of Lake Erie West	NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024

CHALLENGER

LEARNING

CENTER Issue 3 Content

What’s happening in space? Let’s take a look at what is happening in space this month!

Virtual Missions

Experience space travel in your own classroom! Sign up to be entered to win a free virtual mission!

How do we schedule a visit? Visit this section to learn more about scheduling a mission!

Science Snapshot Visit this section for quick and

engaging science content focused

on space!

We can’t wait to see you at the center!

Spring is right around the corner, and our mission schedule is filling up fast! Be sure to reserve your spot soon by contacting us at challengerlc@esclakeeriewest.org.

We recently had the pleasure of hosting our first mission of the school year with the amazing students from Fostoria Academy. Their enthusiasm, teamwork, and problem-solving skills were truly impressive, setting the tone for a fantastic year of exploration and learning.

We’re also thrilled to bring our programs directly to schools through our Virtual Missions to Mars and the Moon! A special shoutout for our upcoming December mission with the incredible team at Marshall STEM—an adventure we’re
eagerly anticipating.

Our center has been buzzing with activity as we work on updating our missions and spaces to make your experience even better. We can’t wait to welcome you and your students soon for an out-of-this-world journey! 🚀

Coordinator of Gifted STEM and Personalized Learning

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SPACE?

Artemis Update!

Engineers and technicians with the Exploration Ground Systems Program prepare to transfer one of the aft assemblies of the SLS (Space Launch System) solid rocket boosters for the Artemis II mission with an overhead crane inside the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. Photo
credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Artemis is more than just a return to the Moon—it's a bold step toward
establishing a sustainable lunar presence in collaboration with international and commercial partners. This effort will serve as a proving ground for future missions to Mars, paving the way for humanity's next great adventure. Read more on our blog about how Artemis is shaping the future of space exploration and inspiring the next generation of explorers. You can read more details on the
Artemis Blog.

Attention Students: NASA Launches Student Essay Contest

The NASA "Power to Explore" STEM Writing Challenge invites K-12 U.S. students to design a mission powered by Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) to a moon in the solar system. Students propose a destination, explain the role of RPS in overcoming challenges, and describe their unique contributions to mission success. Entries are due January 31, 2025, and winners could earn exciting opportunities,
such as visits to NASA facilities. Learn more here.

VIRTUAL MISSIONS Travel to space without leaving your classroom!

Investigate our presence on the surface of Mars and the Moon.
Virtual Missions are space-themed virtual experiences delivered to students in real-time by Challenger Learning Center Flight Directors using video conference technology—perfect for in-person, remote, and hybrid classrooms.Students practice critical 21st century skills including teamwork, collaboration, and problem-solving, while establishing a presence on Mars and the Moon

What to Expect

Approximate program time: 1 hour Delivered in real-time by Challenger Learning Center Flight Directors Closed captioning available
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) aligned
Common Core State Standards (CCSS) aligned

Learn more about Destination Mars HERE! Learn more about Destination Moon HERE!

CLICK HERE for a chance to win a FREE virtual mission!

SCHEDULE A MISSION!

Begin your visit with mission orientation where astronauts receive their mission details and job
assignments.

Join your fellow astronauts as the mission begins on the Spacecraft where research must be completed in order to meet the mission goals.

Lead your crew through a successful mission from Mission Control. Keep the crew safe and you never know, soon you might be in the Spacecraft!

Schedule a mission or request information!

SCIENCE SNAPSHOT:

Horton Hears a Who! Storytime

In this storytime program by NISE Net, students actively listen to Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss. Before the story is read, students make paper “elephant ears” to wear. After the story, they use their sense of smell to explore scent molecules that are too small to see.

Lotus Leaf Effect

Blow those middle school minds with a look at how incredible nature can be...even one small leaf! Using this guide, demonstrate how nature inspires nanotechnology by sharing how nanoscale features on a surface can influence how a material behaves at the macroscale.

Math Challenge

The "Pi in the Sky" math challenge gives students a chance to find solutions to real-world problems all while using math and pi just like NASA scientists and engineers. In this problem from the seventh installment of the set, students use the mathematical constant pi to measure the water
depth of an area mapped by the CORAL mission.

Flying onboard a Gulfstream IV aircraft, CORAL records the spectra of light reflected from the ocean below to study the composition and health of Earth's coral reefs.
Credit: NASA