What is the Plant the Moon Challenge?
Interested in PTMC Jr? Discover what is the Plant the Moon Challenge Jr and how it encourages individuals, students, scientists, and organizations to create innovative and sustainable ways to grow plants utilizing lunar or Martian regolith simulant.
Local Sponsorship Guide
The PTMC Jr is a great chance for businesses and organizations to support local students and reach more potential customers. Teams that need outside funding are encouraged to consider garnering local sponsorships to support their participation in the PTMC Jr.
Core Four Documents Walk-Through
Explore this video overview introducing the PTMC Jr “Core Four” supplement documents that have been specifically designed to guide and support your challenge experience.
Educator Quick
Guide
Wondering more about the process, time commitment, and milestones for the Plant the Moon Challenge Jr.? This quick guide will give prospective educators/coaches a look into what the Challenge is like.
Fundamental Experiment Guide
The basic question for every PTMC Jr experiment is “where do I start?” This quick reference guide provides a launching point for making the choices that customize your PTMC Jr experiment to your own unique research. The guide contains sample suggestions for experimental design, including variable, controls, and protocols.
Experiment Guide Walk-Through
Explore this video overview of the PTMC Jr Fundamental Experiment Guide as a tool to understand experimental design, innovative thinking, and collaboration in addressing complex challenges you may face related to designing your PTMC Jr experiment.
Reviewing Final Reports w/ the SAB
Review feedback provided by our Scientific Advisory Board Members in developing a well-crafted, properly formatted, and ready for submission final report. By following these guidelines and tips, you can ensure that your final report is in good standing for best in show award eligibility.
Experimental Design Kahoot Link
Utilize this curated interactive quiz-based game promotes engagement, collaboration, and active learning about experimental design.
Plant Germination Mini-Challenge
Can your team grow the fastest, healthiest seedling? In this hands-on STEM mini-challenge, you’ll test how light, moisture, or temperature affect plant growth. Compete with classmates to design and run your own experiment—and prove your plant science skills!
Use the scientific method, track your results, and present your findings to the class. It’s a race to grow—and a challenge in critical thinking, teamwork, and real-world biology.
Space Farmer Escape Room
You’re part of the first fully-crewed student expedition to the Moon’s south pole—where water ice holds the key to humanity’s future in space. But now, your systems are failing. The greenhouse is struggling. The water recycler is down. Can your team solve the puzzles, restore the systems, and save the mission?
Step into the Space Farmer Escape Room and see if you have what it takes to survive—and thrive—on the Moon!
How to Register for the Challenge
Struggling to get registered? Watch this video detailing all aspects of the registration process, from initial registration on the website, locating and applying registration credits, to adding your team and navigating the ICS dashboard.
Submitting on the ICS Dashboard
Watch a video to learn more about the procedures for submitting artifacts and tasks on the ICS Dashboard.