Students consider ratios when developing models of the Earth and moon that properly represent their mass, size and distance. Then, students sketch on graph paper a scaled blueprint of their model colony. At the end of the month, students build a 3-D model of their colony that accommodates the number and size of buildings they will need to survive on the moon.

Throughout the month, students read a range of short stories that helps students consider the needs humans may have on the moon: recreation, entertainment and government. By the end of the month, students write their own science fiction stories that take place on the moon.

Students develop a menu for daily meals on the moon that considers nutritional balance and sustainability on the moon. Students use their school’s lunch menu to estimate the ratios of proteins, fats, and carbs consumed during the meal. They mathematically compare the nutrient intake from their school’s lunch to the USDA’s recommendations and modify the lunch menus accordingly for a healthy diet on the moon. Students continue to adjust their menus as they discover how much square footage would be required to support their meal plans and how much waste would be created.

Students study common forms of government found in ancient civilizations such as monarchy, oligarchy, republic, democracy, and tyranny, among others. The in a debate, students consider the pros and cons of these forms of government as potential forms of government for their lunar colonies. The month culminates with students writing a document that outlines the government they have decided for their lunar colony.