- What
happens at Challenger Learning Center
- Who
does a Challenger Learning Center reach
- How many students can participate in a mission at one time
- What does it cost?
What
happens at the Challenger Learning Center?
It starts with a one-day workshop for
teachers, where they receive information and materials about the
"mission." Then the teachers brief the students about their
trip to the Challenger Learning Center, form teams and prepare their
scientific assignments. The actual visit includes a two-hour
"flight" in a high-tech simulator. The class becomes a crew
of scientists and explorers, and is divided into a Mission Control
group and a Spacecraft group to perform a series of hands-on
experiments. Later, back in the classroom, students participate in
post-flight activities that use the data they gathered during their
mission.
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Who
does a Challenger Learning Center reach?
The primary target audience for
Challenger Learning Centers is students in grades 5-9. Generally, the
visits of these classroom groups are scheduled during regular school
hours. Many Challenger Learning Centers then invite other groups to
visit the facility during the summer, on weekends and sometimes in
evening sessions. Groups might include individuals, youth clubs such
as the Scouts and 4-H, corporations and families.
The program builds on concepts that
are inherent to all children, to naturally embrace every student,
regardless of gender, race, economic or physical status, including
those who may not have been traditionally represented in the sciences.
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How
many students can participate in a "flight" at one time?
As many as 32 and as few as16
students are needed to fly a full mission at a Challenger Learning
Center. Annually, each Challenger Learning Center hosts approximately
10,000 individuals per year, making the total number of visitors to
Challenger Learning Centers over 350,000 each year.
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What
does it cost?
Admission is $4/adults and
$3/children and seniors. Public Missions are $17.50 for adults and
$15.00 for students.
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