Washington Sixth Graders Take on the “Build the Moon Challenge”

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Sixth-grade STEAM students in Mrs. Jessica Enstad’s classroom at Washington Elementary School are reaching for the stars as they take on the exciting Build the Moon Challenge, a hands-on learning experience that combines science, technology, engineering, and creativity to solve a real-world problem: How can astronauts build a home on the Moon using materials already available on its surface? As part of the challenge, students are exploring how simulated lunar regolith, a material resembling the Moon’s rocky soil, can be used to create strong building materials. Mrs. Enstad said the project includes three phases: developing lunar concrete, testing its strength, and designing a lunar habitat capable of supporting four astronauts for six months. To connect classroom learning with real-world construction, students had the opportunity to interview Construction Engineers Site Superintendent Jordan Gleason about the district’s new school construction proje