This 6-hour outdoor adventure turns 3rd graders into “rescue astronauts” tasked with saving a damaged planet by solving real-world environmental crises. The journey follows 6 stages, where teams must build functional water filters, cross “lava fields” with sturdy bridges, and engineer wind-resistant shelters. Using a mix of natural and recycled materials, students apply scientific and design thinking cycles to protect their mission from simulated “alien winds” and pollution. A unique focus on “SPIRIT skills” integrates emotional feedbacks after every challenge, helping students name their feelings by using weather icons like “sunny” or “stormy.” The mission concludes with a Reflective walk with emotional prompts, where teams celebrate both their engineering triumphs and their growth in empathy and resilience.
SPIRIT Skill Focus
- Valuing people and nature
- Resilience
- Problem-solving
- Emotional awareness, regulation and communication
- Empathy
- Creativity
Basic Information Sheet
| Age group | Student number | Duration | Number of stages | Subjects connection and relevance |
| 4th, 5th grades students | Whole class (Teams of 5–6 students) | 6h | 6 stages | Science art |
National curriculum Link and Objectives
- Apply scientific thinking to real-world challenges (environmental science, engineering).
- Use creativity and design to build and test prototypes.
- Develop collaboration and problem-solving skills under constraints.