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.

Students working

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.

Students at laptop

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 Gonz
ález

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 Vil
á

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