Welcome to the NGen Youth Lunar Mining Activity!
Are you ready to embark on a creative journey to the Moon? This activity is designed to take your imagination out of this world! Students will dive into the future of space exploration, tackling the fascinating challenge of lunar mining while implementing principles of sustainability.
NGen Youth
Youth Culture Inc. (founder of Space Youth) is proud to collaborate with NGen on an innovative youth engagement program. NGen, Next Generation Manufacturing Canada, is working on groundbreaking projects in technology and manufacturing. NGen Youth is all about engaging youth in the discussion, dialogue and brainstorming about future-forward innovation—including in the space sector!
Project Objective
The goal of this activity is simple yet exciting: create a diorama that showcases a lunar mining operation! As students design their own lunar landscapes, they’ll explore how to extract resources from the Moon in ways that are sustainable and align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Learning Outcomes
- Discover how lunar mining works and why sustainability is key for space exploration.
- Unleash your creativity by building a one-of-a-kind diorama that reflects real-world challenges and futuristic solutions.
- Think critically about how resource extraction can impact the Moon’s environment, and how we can avoid making the same mistakes we’ve made on Earth.
- Connect global issues with space exploration and learn how you can contribute to a sustainable future—both on our planet and beyond!
Materials Needed
- Shoeboxes or other small containers for the base of your diorama
- Craft supplies such as construction paper, markers, glue, and scissors
- Small figurines of astronauts, rovers, space shuttles to populate your lunar mining settlement (Unless you build it yourself!)
- Modeling clay or playdough and aluminum foil to sculpt your lunar landscape
- Optional: recycled craft supplies such as water bottles, cardboard, and egg cartons to really practice sustainability!
Ready to launch your imagination and creativity into orbit? Let’s get started and build the future—one diorama at a time!
Project Steps
The SDGs
Resources
Links
