Valley View Middle School students in Jill Weaver’s STEM classes are preparing for a simulated mission to Mars, thanks to a $15,000 grant from the Toshiba America Foundation.

In her time as a Valley View STEM teacher, Weaver has earned $600,000 in grants for equipment that supports projects like weather balloon launches and 3D printing.

The grant will support a simulated Mars experience for students. Weaver held a similar Mars experience for her first semester students.

Mission to Mars

In an interview, Weaver shared how the interactive Mission to Mars was executed. Students worked in teams to collect samples on “Mars,” a 40-foot former museum exhibit with authentic images from the planet set up in the common area outside the classroom. Students suited up in flight suits and helmets for their mission, using walkie talkies to communicate to their fellow students on the “base” inside the classroom.

Inside the classroom, students planted Heinz tomato seeds with packets that had been on the space station, along with a control group of regular seeds. They made daily observations and comparisons.

The classroom door was outfitted with a 3D-printed handle to mimic the look of an airlock. The students spent 5 days working on Mars, rotating through 5 team experiences.

The next mission will include additional immersive experiences, including hands-on design challenges in space habitation, hydroponics, geology, robotics, and materials engineering. According to a school press release, the goal is to deepen scientific understanding, strengthen engineering design and technical documentation skills, and expand awareness of future STEM career pathways—moving students beyond learning about exploration to actively participating.

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