GRADES 6 to 8 | 2024-2025
Challenge 5: Growing Beyond Earth®
YOUR CHALLENGE:
As NASA looks toward a long-term human presence beyond Earth’s orbit, there are specific science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) challenges related to food production in space. Established in 2015 as a partnership between Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and NASA’s Exploration Research and Technology Programs, Growing Beyond Earth enables student community scientists to actively contribute data toward NASA mission planning.
New Schools will conduct the following experiment:
Returning schools will choose on of the following experiments:
Download PDF for this info on one page – COMING SOON!
✓ Submission Requirements: | |
Teachers must register to attend a mandatory workshop led by NASA to receive information on research protocols by August 24, 2024. The in-person workshop will be held on September 14, 2024. Those teachers registered for the workshop must submit a Lease Agreement if they plan to participate in this challenge. **If you cannot make it to the mandatory in-person workshop but would still like to participate in this Challenge, please reach out to the Challenge team at challenge@fairchildgarden.org Those teachers registered for the workshop must submit a Lease Agreement if they plan to participate in this challenge. | |
Trial 1 data sheets with on-time submissions. – Submitted to GBE portal. | |
3 – 5 photos of students carrying out their Trial 1 experiment – Science in Action! | |
Trial 2 Proposal –
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Optional Trial 2 data sheets. – Submitted to GBE portal | |
Optional Trial 2 Presentation
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Digital Entry Form. | |
One submission per school. | |
On-time entry form submission. Late entries will be accepted with a reduction in points. |
CHALLENGE RESOURCES:
Important Dates
MANDATORY In-person Teacher Workshop at Fairchild:
Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
**If you are unable to attend the mandatory workshop, please notify the Challenge team at challenge@fairchildgarden.org
Trial 1 Data and Photos Due:
Friday, November 22, 2024 by 5:00pm
Trial 2 Proposal Due:
Friday, December 13, 2024 by 5:00pm
Optional Trial 2 Data Due:
Friday, March 21, 2025 by 5:00pm
Optional Trial 2 Presentation Due:
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 by 5:00pm
Research Symposium:
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Point Breakdown | |
Participants per submission | Groups |
Maximum number of points per submission | 300 max 150 for required Trial 1 data AND Trial 2 proposal 100 for OPTIONAL Trial 2 data and presentation 50 bonus points for presenting at the GBE Symposium |
Number of submissions per school | 1 |
Evaluation Criteria
COMING SOON!
Fairchild City in a Garden Standards
Scientific Output
This Challenge Meets these Standards of the
Green Schools Recognition Program
Category 3 (Health & Well-Being), Indicator A: Healthy Food & Garden Initiatives
Category 4 (Curriculum Integration), Indicator A: Interdisciplinary Approach
Category 5 (Community Involvement), Indicator: Community Partnerships in School Activities
This website is based upon the work supported by NASA under grant award No 80NCCS22M0125. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.