Food on the Moon
Students investigate what it takes to grow food from plants, then use evidence to design an agricultural plan for future astronauts on the Moon.
This lesson was developed as part of the Northwest Earth and Space Sciences (NESSP) 2025 to 2026 Artemis ROADS III Challenge and Companion Course.
Grades 3 to 12 | 270 minutes classroom time | Plant observations over several weeks
⏱ Total Time
270 min, plus observations
🎓 Grade Band
Grades 3 to 12
📦 Materials
Plant investigation supplies
🧭 Standards
NGSS, ELA, and Math
Teacher Note: This lesson includes about 4.5 hours of classroom time, plus short daily plant observations over several weeks. You can begin the plant investigation, continue with other lessons, and return once plants have grown enough to analyze.
Downloads & Resources
Basic materials: seeds or dried beans, soil, containers, water, light, scale, rulers, labels, and data sheets.
Google Files
Microsoft Files
Standards Alignment
View Grades 3–5 alignment
- NGSS: 5-PS3-1
- CCSS ELA: W.4.2, W.4.2.A, W.4.2.B
- CCSS Math: 5.NF.B.3, 5.NF.B.5, 5.NF.B.5.a
View Middle School alignment
- NGSS: MS-LS2-1
- CCSS ELA: W.7.1, W.7.1.A, W.7.1.B
- CCSS Math: 5.NF.B.6, 6.RP.A.1, 6.RP.A.3, 6.RP.A.3.d, 7.RP.A.1, 7.RP.A.2, 7.G.A.1
View High School alignment
- NGSS: HS-LS2-4
- CCSS ELA: W.9-10.1, W.9-10.1.A, W.9-10.1.B
- CCSS Math: HSN.Q.A.1, HSN.Q.A.2, HSG.MG.A.3
Lesson Summary
Students begin by connecting food to the plants they eat every day. Then they design a plant investigation, collect evidence about inputs and outputs, and use their findings to create an agricultural plan for feeding astronauts on the Moon.
🚀 Engage
Students identify plants they have eaten recently and discuss why people need food.
Estimated time: 30 min
🔍 Explore
Students plan and carry out an investigation about the time and resources needed to grow food from plants.
Estimated time: 120 min, plus daily observations
💡 Explain
Students analyze their data and make claims about calories produced and resources used.
Estimated time: 30 min
🧩 Elaborate
Students use their evidence and NASA resources to design a Moon agriculture plan.
Estimated time: 60 min
✅ Evaluate
Students document their investigation and present their agricultural plan.
Estimated time: 30 min