Project Mars
- Grades 4-5
- CTY-Level
-
LIVE
- Science and Engineering
You and your classmates take on the role of intrepid interplanetary explorers, designing a space probe, learning about the complexity of landing an exploration vehicle, and planning a Martian colony. For decades, scientists have looked to Mars as an untapped resource, possibly holding clues to the origin of the solar system as well as the potential for future colonization. Numerous autonomous satellites and rovers have been sent to the red planet, and with each successful mission we learn more about our most accessible celestial neighbor.
Explore topics such as Newton’s Laws of Motion, Kepler’s laws, and terraforming as you learn about the atmospheric and geological conditions that exist on Mars. Utilizing this knowledge, design plans for a mission and develop a sustainable blueprint for a prosperous civilization.
Fall and Spring time commitment: 4-5 hours per week (1-hour of class time, 3-4 hours of independent work).
Summer time commitment: 12-15 hours per week (3-hours of class time, 9-12 hours of independent work).
This course is
ungraded.
Classes
Register for an Online course by selecting an open class below. If no open classes are listed, then course enrollment is currently closed. Note: You will need to have an active CTY Account to complete registration through MyCTY.
Testing and Prerequisites
| Math | Verbal | |
|---|---|---|
| Required Level | CTY-Level | or CTY-Level |
Students must achieve qualifying scores on an advanced assessment to be eligible for CTY programs. If you don’t have qualifying scores, you have several different testing options. We’ll help you find the right option for your situation.
Sign up for Testing Learn MoreCost and Financial Aid
Tuition
- Varies
Application fee
- Nonrefundable Application Fee - $15 (Waived for financial aid applicants)
- Nonrefundable International Fee - $20 (outside US only)
Financial Aid
We have concluded our financial aid application review process for Academic Year 2023-2024 Online Programs (Courses with start dates July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024). Our application for Academic Year 2024-2025 Online Programs is expected to open in January. We encourage those who may need assistance in the future to apply for aid as early as possible.
Course Materials
Please acquire all course materials by the course start date, unless noted as perishable. Items marked as “perishable” should not be acquired until the student needs them in the course. If you have questions about these materials or difficulty locating them, please contact [email protected].
Book Title: Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet
Author: Buzz Aldrin
ISBN-10: 1426322062
ISBN-13: 978-1426322068
Additional Materials:
- Cardboard
- Paper clips
- Balloons
- Straws
- Duct tape
- Paper cups
- String or yarn
- Plastic bags
- Plastic wrap
- Live plants or seeds
- Paper towel
- Thermometer
- Goggles or glasses
- Popsicle sticks or toothpicks
- Tubing (rubber or plastic) or a piece of water hose
- Recyclable materials (including empty soda bottles)
Optional:
- Hot glue
- Model magic or clay
- Foam core board
- SCRATCH account (free)
Technical Requirements
This course requires a computer with high-speed Internet access and an up-to-date web browser such as Chrome or Firefox. You must be able to communicate with the instructor via email. Visit the Technical Requirements and Support page for more details.
This course uses a virtual classroom for instructor-student communication. The classroom works on standard computers with the Zoom desktop client, and on tablets or handhelds that support the Zoom Mobile app. Recorded meetings can only be viewed on a computer with the Zoom desktop client installed. The Zoom desktop client and Zoom Mobile App are both free to download.
About Science and Engineering at CTY
Our Science and Engineering courses bring a variety of science topics to life. By introducing topics not covered in standard science curricula, we build and reinforce your science knowledge. All courses support critical thinking, problem solving, and reasoning, and encourage a real-life, hands-on approach to learning about Earth, space, life sciences, chemistry, and the physical world. Guided by expert CTY science educators, you’ll master science lab kits, perform hands-on experiments using common household objects, participate in dynamic group discussions, or prepare for AP exams.
More engaging science enrichment courses!
In the newly revised Inventions in Engineering course, students bring fantasy into reality by creating inventions to solve the problems of favorite fictional characters and the real world alike. A new unit in Introduction to Forensics asks students to evaluate the validity of various kinds of forensic evidence and its impact on the lives of individuals, and to provide recommendations on which types of forensic evidence should be admissible in the criminal justice system. In Household Chemistry, students engage in newly revised activities that help develop their skills in making and recording detailed observations using all 5 senses as they explore states of matter and the role chemistry plays in their daily lives.
Meet our Science and Engineering Instructors
I am amazed at the level of tenacity of my students and am inspired by their quest to learn beyond walls and defined standards. They inspire me to learn more about our dynamic scientific world for continuous growth of their eager minds.
Tamica Stubbs
Science and Engineering Instructor
One of the joys of teaching science is encouraging students to observe closely the world around them. I enjoy when students start to think critically about how everything in the natural world interacts with everything else, and how they can apply what they have learned in class to real life.
Keith Gallinelli
Science and Engineering Instructor