Understanding how we can use lunar soils to grow crops for future human missions is one of the next great steps in supporting a return by humans to the Moon.
The Plant the Moon Challenge NASA Space Grant Regional Expansion Project builds on the Institute of Competition Sciences Plant the Moon Challenge by providing additional state/jurisdiction-based support to educators, free lunar regolith simulant kits, teacher stipends, enhancement activities, special experiential state and regional awards and expanded educator professional development. The enhanced professional development for educators and curriculum extension activities will be integrated in the ongoing Plant the Moon Challenge. The project is expected to engage more than 13,000 students in PTMC over the next three years. Informal and formal educators in the project region can learn more here.
Plant the Moon Challenge (PTMC), developed by the Institute of Competition Sciences, is 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. Participating educators receive a PTMC Activity Kit for each team of about ten students including lunar regolith simulant, a Project Guide, and a pH meter. 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. For two weeks before 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 content.
The Plant the Moon Challenge NASA Space Grant Regional Expansion Project builds on the Institute of Competition Sciences Plant the Moon Challenge by providing additional state/jurisdiction-based support to educators, free lunar regolith simulant kits, teacher stipends, enhancement activities, special experiential state and regional awards and expanded educator professional development. The enhanced professional development for educators and curriculum extension activities will be integrated in the ongoing Plant the Moon Challenge. The project is expected to engage more than 13,000 students in PTMC over the next three years. Informal and formal educators in the project region can learn more in the project fact sheet.
Spring 2023 Regional Winners
Best Overall Middle School Team Manassas Park Middle from Manassas Park Middle School in Manassas Park, Virginia led by Robyn Weatherholtz
Best Overall High School Team Aerospace
2: POTATO” from the Academy of Arts, Science, and Technology in Myrtle Beach,
South Carolina led by Katie Thompson
Spring 2023 State Winners
Florida
Evaluation of Results:
Middle School – SGMS-Martinelli8 from Storm Grove
Middle School in Vero Beach, led by Joan Martinelli
High School – N/A
Growth:
Middle School – SGMS RAD Force from Storm Grove
Middle School in Vero Beach, led by Melissa Sleeper
High School – Black Panthers from Black Home Schoolers
of Central Florida in Deltona, led by Rasheeda Denning
Experimental Design:
Middle School – Walton Warrior 2 from Walton
Middle School, led by Greer Harvell
High School – BAM Team 1 from the Biology and Medicine
Club at Lyman High School in Longwood, led by Suzanne
Davis
Innovation:
Middle School – SGMS RAD from Storm Grove Middle
School in Vero Beach, led by Melissa Sleeper
High School – N/A
North Carolina
Evaluation of Results:
Middle School – Springfield Middle 4 from Springfield
Middle School in Wilson, led by Haley Ward
High School – N/A
Growth:
Middle School – The Veggie Planters from Speight Middle
School in Wilson, led by Kathryn Thomas
High School – N/A
Experimental Design:
Middle School – Springfield Middle 5 from
Springfield Middle School, led by Haley Ward
High School – Moon Mycologists from Innovation Early
College High School in Greenville, led by Klara Higgins
Innovation:
Middle School – The Squad from Speight Middle School in
Wilson, led by Kathryn Thomas
High School – The Growing GOATS from Innovation Early
College High School in Greenville, led by Klara Higgin
Puerto Rico
Evaluation of Results:
Middle School – Astrobiology Makers from S.U.
Bayamoncito School in Aguas Buenas, led by Darlene
Huertas
High School – Altalune from José Emilio Lugo School in
Adjuntas, led by Maria Vanessa González
Growth:
Middle School – Alpha Midori from Instituto Estudiantes
Dotados in San Juan, led by Héctor Rivera
High School – MML 2 from Manuel Méndez Liciaga School
in San Sebastián, led by Brenda Rodriguez
Experimental Design:
Middle School – Seminatrici Spaziali from Hemeterio
Colón y Warens School in Ponce, led by Del Castro
High School – Caribbean Moonwalkers from Juan Suárez
Pelegrina School in Aguadilla, led by Alexandra Ortega
Innovation:
Middle School – Team 8-1 from the Juan B. Soto School in
Aguada, led by Luis Lugo
High School – Eagles Fly High from Wesleyan Academy in
Guaynabo, led by Sofia Vilá
South Carolina
Evaluation of Results:
Middle School – Team Liftoff! From Daniel Island School in
Charleston, led by Marsha Nea
High School – Aerospace 1: Aurum Piscis from the
Academy of Arts, Science, and Technology in Myrtle
Beach, led by Katie Thompson
Growth:
Middle School – Gardeners of the Galaxy Vol. 2 from
Orangeburg Christian Academy in Orangeburg, led by
Edward Howell
High School – CCSMS Mission Group 3 from Charleston
Charter School for Math and Science in Charleston, led by
Jandi Withrow
Experimental Design:
Middle School – Holy City Spacemen from Daniel Island
School in Charleston, led by Marsha Neal
High School – Aerospace 2: POTATO from the Academy of
the Arts, Science, and Technology in Myrtle Beach, led by
Katie Thompson
Innovation:
Middle School – Big Bang Benjamins from Tall Pines
Academy in Aiken, led by Stephany Griffin
High School – Beach Kois from the Academy of the Arts,
Science, and Technology in Myrtle Beach, led by Annie
Johnson
Virginia
Evaluation of Results:
Middle School – Manassas Park Middle from Manassas
Park Middle School in Manassas Park, led by Robyn
Weatherholtz
High School – Pea Patrollers from Heritage High School in
Leesburg, led by Amy Goodyear
Growth:
Middle School – Forest Middle School Cavaliers #4 from
Forest Middle School in Forest, led by Cindy Watson
High School – Space Rangers from Tuscarora High School
in Leesburg, led by Marina Whaley
Experimental Design:
Middle School – Cougars 4 from Pulaski Middle School,
led by Tina Winesett
High School – Achillea 11 from Eastern View High School
in Culpepper, led by Rachel Stewart
Innovation:
Middle School – Cougars 1 from Pulaski County Middle
School in Pulaski, led by Tina Winesett
High School – Green Moon from Arlington Tech in
Arlington, led by Faith Stanley
West Virginia
Evaluation of Results:
Middle School – Eighth Grade from East Fairmont Middle
School in East Fairmount, led by Samantha Copthorne
High School – Gernips from Princeton High School in
Princeton, led by Carol Whitteker
Growth:
Middle School – Wildcat Green Team from Wheeling
Middle School in Wheeling, led by Jennifer Craig
High School – RMJC Botany Team from Ronald Mulholland
Juvenile Center in Wheeling, led by Jane
Neuenschwander
Experimental Design:
Middle School – Team Demeter from Princeton Middle
School in Princeton, led by Christina Lester
High School – Princeton AP Bio 2 from Princeton High
School, led by Jennifer McClanahan
Innovation:
Middle School – Oopsie Daisies from East Fairmount
Middle School in Fairmont, led by Samantha Copthorne
High School – Team Laika from Pike View High School in
Princeton, led by Teresa Barton