When my teaching is inspired, I see my students inspired. The students in this picture participated in a LIVE space simulation from Challenger Learning Center’s Moon, Mars and Beyond! This program is an innovative way to engage students in the power of math and science in real world situations. The mission is based on authentic space science and math. During the mission, students connect live to a Flight Director with the help of computers, the Internet, and video conferencing equipment.The students have a lot of work to do before they rescue a ship and have it arrive at the Mars station. They are divided into teams to work more efficiently on the rescue. The teams are based on the five planets in our outer solar system: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, with an additional team working to communicate the results of the team work directly to Earth Mission Control. The actual work to prepare for this mission started four week’s ago. The students enjoyed the mission, and said it was a life-changing event! Just look at these engaged students!