Lesson Plan 7: Mission Day

Introduction
This lesson will guide you in implementing the live simulation on mission day. In the mission a fire breaks out on a lunar base. Student teams will make use of an online fire simulator to model fire outcomes based on possible initial conditions. Students will calculate the oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations as the fire progresses and plot the data in box-and-whiskers graphs to analyze the cause of the fire. Recommendations on extinguishing the fire are made from final analyses.

Duration

75-90 minutes

Vocabulary

None

Materials

• Three to four computers per team connected to the Internet

• Videoconferencing unit

• Copies of report forms for each team

• Pencils

• Calculators

• Scrap paper

Teacher Preparation

1. Use your videoconferencing unit to test connect with the Challenger Learning Center at least one week before mission day. Contact us to schedule a test connection.

2. Make sure you have arranged the classroom for mission day. See the document called “How to Set up the Classroom” in the Mission Day section of the web site for a diagram and instructions.

3. Print the table tents for each team so that students can easily identify each team during the mission.

   • Communications Specialists
   • Alpha Team
   • Bravo Team
   • Charlie Team
   • Delta Team
   • Echo Team

4. Print and copy the instruction, student worksheets, and report forms for each team here.

Procedure

1. Students should review their team instructions before mission day.

2. Students should organize their work stations.

3. Connect to the Challenger Learning Center. The Mission Commander will provide instructions. Student communicators will provide information to the Nission Commander.

4. Students participate in the live event.

5. After the mission and debriefing session, you can provide additional time for students to recount their mission experience. There might not be enough time during the debriefing itself for them to share their thoughts and feelings.

Discussion Tips
The students should be ready to fully participate in the simulation. You may want to be available to help your students, but you should avoid rushing in to solve problems they could solve with time. Problem solving and teamwork are important and valuable parts of the simulation experience, and students often need to work with minimal teacher support to develop these skills.

Special Comments
Make sure you have arranged the classroom before the mission and checked on all technical requirements well before mission day. Have all materials and handouts ready for each team along with extra pencils, erasers, and calculators. Label each table with the table tents provided on the website so students can easily find the specific teams during the mission.