Projects-MOONSHOT ACADEMY

Zero-Carbon Building-Building a Sustainable Future

Disciplines/Subjects: Architecture, Environmental Science, Engineering, Physics Key Themes: Zero-Carbon Building, Renewable Energy, Smart Building, Carbon Neutrality, Sustainable Development In the face of the intensifying global climate change, humanity is confronted with unprecedented environmental challenges. Scientific research indicates that the construction industry is one of the major sources of global carbon emissions, accounting for a significant proportion of the total global emissions. To tackle this challenge, countries around the world are taking action to reduce carbon emissions in the construction sector. China, as one of the largest construction markets globally, is actively responding to the national "dual carbon" goals (carbon peak and carbon neutrality), promoting the green transformation of the construction industry, and achieving sustainable development. Against this backdrop, our project is launched. It aims to design and construct a zero-carbon building model through interdisciplinary collaboration, demonstrating how to achieve minimal environmental impact and maximum energy efficiency in architecture. Students will learn the principles of zero-carbon buildings, including energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, and resource management, and apply them to real architectural design. The core of the project is to have students work in teams to design and build a building model that incorporates renewable energy systems (e.g., solar panels) and green building technologies (e.g., green roofs, rainwater harvesting systems). Students need to consider the energy needs of the building, material selection, environmental adaptability, and aesthetic design. They will ultimately present their model and explain their design choices and how they align with zero-carbon goals. Through this project, students will not only master the theoretical knowledge of zero-carbon buildings but also develop teamwork, problem-solving, and innovative design skills. This project is not only a practical exploration of architecture but also a profound experience of sustainable development and a contribution to global climate goals.

Multi-cultural Villages and Tribes

Disciplines/Subjects: History, geography, art and global citizenship Key Themes: Cultural Diversity Tribal Traditions Geography and Environment Social Structures and Roles Global Awareness This project explores the diverse cultures of various tribes and villages across the globe. Students will dive into the history, geography, social structures, daily life, and survival methods of these communities. By researching different tribes such as the Maasai, Cherokee, and others, students will understand how geography influences daily life and culture. The project culminates in the creation of display boards for a final expo, where students will share their findings, models, and visual work to showcase their understanding of the tribes they’ve researched.

From Farm to Table

Disciplines/Subjects: Science、Social Study、Language Key Themes: Curiosity、Healthy eating、Plant growth、Regions and cuisine China is an ancient civilization with a profound history of five thousand years. Our traditional culture is vast and profound, and among it, the culinary culture is particularly charming. Chinese cuisine is not merely food; it also carries our history, customs, and wisdom. We have dumplings during the Spring Festival, symbolizing reunion and wealth; zongzi during the Dragon Boat Festival, in memory of the patriotic poet Qu Yuan; and mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival, representing fulfillment and reunion. These delicacies are not only delicious but also imbued with deep cultural significance. Learners are going to open a "Culinary Street" in the Moon Exploration Community, allowing friends from all over the world to taste traditional Chinese cuisine and experience its unique cultural charm. At the same time, they will also promote the concept of healthy eating, so that everyone can enjoy delicious and healthy food. In this project, learners can: Gain an understanding of the concept of healthy eating and learn about the relationship between the human digestive system and diet. Explore the signature dishes of major Chinese cities, learn about traditional Chinese tea culture, and try making traditional Chinese pastries and dried fruits. Discover the beauty of food, understand the culture of traditional Chinese shops, and create their own unique stores.

Biomimetic Design

Disciplines/Subjects: Science、Language、Engineer Key Themes: Creativity, Design, Biomimetics Biomimetics is a discipline that involves understanding the principles and mechanisms of biology and applying this knowledge to fields such as engineering, technology, and design. It aims to imitate the structures, functions, and behaviors of living organisms in nature to develop products and systems that are more efficient, energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and intelligent. The applications of biomimetics are extremely broad, including robotics, aircraft, automobiles, architecture, materials science, medicine, and more. Common examples of biomimetic design in our daily lives range from large-scale items like airplanes and eco-friendly buildings to smaller ones like medical bandages and swimsuits. All these are inspired by nature, which provides endless inspiration to designers willing to change reality. In this project, third-grade learners will observe the different characteristics of plants and animals, identify real-life problems that need to be solved, establish connections between the two, and attempt to design a biomimetic product to address these practical issues. Even more excitingly, they will have the opportunity to embark on an entrepreneurial journey. They will hold a formal product launch with their own design. If they receive support from more judges, they may even have the chance to initiate the production of their entrepreneurial product! Throughout this process, they will act as product designers, understanding what a product is, who it aims to solve problems for, what unique design it should have, and how to transform a design into a tangible prototype. They will also be entrepreneurs, needing to deliver a presentation to showcase their achievements and growth. Of course, we also encourage them to fulfill their roles and contribute within their teams. If they can manage budgeting and design, it may offer even greater assistance to their entrepreneurship.

Exploring the Chicken-Vegetable Symbiosis System - A Learning Journey from Life to Ecology

Discipline/ Subject: Biology, Ecology, Engineering Key Themes: Life Cycle, Ecological Cycle, Engineering Design, Sustainable Development This project follows the life cycle of chickens as the main thread, integrating ecological cycles and engineering design concepts to create a chicken-vegetable symbiosis system that promotes sustainable agricultural practices. Learners will explore the entire process of chicken incubation, growth, rearing, and its symbiotic relationship with plants while continuously optimizing the system through engineering design and scientific experimentation. The project covers the stages of egg incubation and chick development, the construction and management of the chicken coop, the application of microbiological technology in chicken manure treatment, and the continuous optimization of the ecological symbiosis system. Through hands-on practice, teamwork, and scientific inquiry, learners will enhance their problem-solving abilities and gain a deeper understanding of ecological cycles and sustainable development principles.

Super Clean Life

Disciplines/Subjects: Language、Science、Social Study、Visual Arts Key Themes: Empathy、Clean life、Material change、Marketing and sales In this project, learners will act as an expert team to help "Stinky Princess" solve some of the problems she encounters in her life. "Stinky Princess" hopes to find a magical soap that not only makes her clean and fragrant but is also made from eco-friendly and healthy materials. During this learning journey, learners will be assigned the following roles: Bacteria Investigator: When they put on the white investigator's hat, they need to gather as much knowledge as possible about bacteria through various channels, create a set of bacteria profile cards, and make an "ID card" for the bacteria residents. Healthy Lifestyle Guardian: When they put on the green guardian's hat, they need to explore and experience a lifestyle that coexists harmoniously with bacteria and nature during their outings, and document their inspirations and creative ideas. Magic Experimenter: When they put on the blue experimenter's hat, they will use their knowledge of acids, bases, and changes in states of matter to conduct chemical magic experiments. Fragrant Clean World Inventor: When they put on the yellow inventor's hat, the most critical part of the project arrives, soap making! In this phase, they need to consider factors such as cleanliness, environmental friendliness, scent, safety, and user needs. Soap Company Salesperson: When they put on the red salesperson's hat, it means they need to find suitable customers to promote their product. At this stage, they must use specific sales techniques tailored to different clients to market their product effectively.

"Future Technology City" Unpowered Flying Car Challenge

Disciplines/Subjects: Engineering Design, Physics, Mathematics, Art Key Themes:Gravity Drive, Green Energy, Engineering Innovation, Physics Modeling，Track Car Set against the backdrop of a future energy crisis, fourth-grade learners take on the role of "Tomorrow Tech City Engineers" to design and build a gravity-powered, zero-energy vehicle. By studying track parameters (a test track that is 2 meters high and 7.5 meters long), they apply engineering thinking to optimize the wheelbase, track width, and center of gravity, addressing the challenge of balancing stability on curves with speed. Throughout the project, learners go through the entire process of problem definition (energy needs) - conceptual design (three-view drawing) - material selection (lightweight wood/plastic structure) - iterative testing (speed and friction control) - and product launch (tech expo roadshow). Using limited materials (A4 plywood, 3D-printed gears, etc.), they create an eco-friendly vehicle. This project showcases a deep integration of engineering design thinking and physical principles (potential energy conversion, friction mechanics), and through teamwork, learners achieve a leap from design to reality.

Memory Realm-Building My Family's Digital Legacy

Disciplines/Subjects: Computer Science, Ethics, Language Arts, Design Key Themes: Digital Heritage Preservation, AI Ethics, Memory Digitization, Intergenerational Communication In the "Memory Realm" project, fourth-grade learners will explore the application of artificial intelligence in preserving family memories. As digital memory creators, learners will collect and organize the voices, images, and handwritten texts of their relatives and use AI technology to generate digital family personas.Learners will go through a complete process from memory collection, data organization, AI synthesis, and ethical evaluation to final storage and presentation. They will gain an understanding of the potential and challenges of AI technology while discussing ethical and privacy protection concerns. Ultimately, each learner will create a personalized "Digital Legacy Capsule" to store their family memories.

Projects

Each project is like an adventure journey. As little detectives, we keep asking questions and, with curiosity and courage, try to solve every challenge.