WSST Conference 2025

This presentation will explore how the Growing Beyond Earth (GBE) citizen science project has been integrated into a middle school science classroom. GBE, a collaborative effort between NASA and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, offers students a unique opportunity to engage in authentic scientific research by growing plants in controlled environments. By participating in this project, students are exposed to real-world science practices, including data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Through a series of hands-on activities, students learn about plant biology, environmental factors, and the challenges of growing plants in space. The project aligns with NGSS by addressing core ideas in life science, earth and space science, and engineering design.

This session will delve into the specific activities and lessons implemented to engage students in the GBE project, including:
--Plant Growth Experiments
--Data Collection and Analysis
--Scientific Inquiry
Student Learning Objectives
--Understand the basic principles of plant growth and development.
--Develop data collection and analysis skills.
--Apply scientific inquiry to investigate real-world problems.
--Appreciate the challenges of growing plants in space.
--Develop a deeper understanding of the role of science in society.

Through this project, students have been able to contribute to real NASA research while developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.