The Theme That Started Everything

For Several years, I tied every unit to the idea of Mars colonization. The goal was simple:

Teach science, but make it unforgettable.
Teach engineering, but make it human.
Teach problem-solving by giving the kids a “planet” full of problems.

We talked:

how habitats needed to shield from radiation, for the thin atmosphere did not block the sun harmful rays.

How CO₂ scrubbers kept you breathing, carbon dioxide can build up in a enclosed area.

How to grow food where nothing wants to grow, soil consideration, temperature ranges, you need sunlight, but how much.

How a colony survives when Earth is months away, no one is coming to save you, save yourself.

What it means to build a society from scratch. laws, government, and religion. What is needed?

The kids weren’t just engaged, they were on fire. They argued about leadership structures. They fought over who got to design the life-support systems. They tested ideas, failed, rebuilt, failed again, and cheered like champions when something finally worked.

But something else happened too. They started imagining the people living on another planet.

Not just the tech. Not just the math. But the lives.

All of their fears, enthusiasm, and heart, I captured in Aries I - The King of Mars.