Marstronaut® Basics Category Quest - Train the Brain

▶ Lesson Plan

Grades 5-12 45 min Health / Science Category Quest Trivia

Learning Objectives

Identify and define key health vocabulary across 6 wellness categories

Demonstrate comprehension of how health, fitness, and mental wellness connect to space readiness

Apply critical thinking to answer health trivia under time pressure

Connect health knowledge to real-world decisions and astronaut career pathways

🎣 Hook 3 min

"Astronauts train for years before going to space — but did you know that their health screening is even harder than their academic tests? What do you think they check?" Let students brainstorm, then reveal that EVERY category on the board connects to real astronaut health requirements.

📖 Pre-Game Vocabulary 7 min

Review the 6 Category Quest categories and ask students to predict what topics they'll cover. Share one "Space Connection" fact per category to build excitement. Emphasize the Health Bonus system — every question earns 2x points because ALL content is health-related!

🎮 Gameplay 20 min

Individual: Students play solo, answering 30 questions with 20-second timers. Target: answer 24+ correctly to reach "ON FIRE" status.

Team Play: Divide into 2-4 teams. Teams buzz in to answer. Correct = full points with 2x health bonus. Wrong = lose half the question value. Power Play adds wagering strategy! Score 80%+ to earn a spin on the EARNED It Spin4Rewards Prize Wheel!

💬 Debrief 10 min

1. Which category surprised you the most? What fact did you not expect?
2. How does understanding health science connect to space exploration? Why do astronauts need to know this?
3. What's one health habit you could start TODAY based on something you learned in the game?

🔗 Extensions 5 min

Writing: Pick your weakest category and write a 1-page "Space Health Brief" explaining those topics to a younger student.

Art: Create a "Marstronaut Health Poster" for one category using facts from the game.

Research: Choose one career spotlight and research what education and training is needed.

Connection: Play the Marstronaut BASICS Bingo Card to go deeper on each topic with Learn It / Live It / Share It.

Standards Alignment:

ISTE 1.1 Empowered Learner ISTE 1.3 Knowledge Constructor ISTE 1.6 Creative Communicator SHAPE 1: Motor Skills SHAPE 4: Responsible Behavior NHES 1: Core Concepts NHES 2: Analyze Influences NHES 5: Decision Making NGSS LS1.A: Structure & Function ASCD: Healthy, Engaged, Challenged

▶ Performance Scoring & Coin Economy

How Category Quest Awards Train the Brain Coins

Every point earned in Category Quest is a Train the Brain Coin (TTB Coin) — the official earning unit of the Train the Brain series. TTB Coins feed directly into the player's FFH Academy profile and can convert to Live It! Coins for the Academy's dual-coin economy:

Metric	Formula	Example
🧠 Train the Brain Coins	Raw in-game score (primary unit)	Final score = 2,400 TTB Coins
🪙 Live It! Coins	TTB Coins ÷ 10	2,400 TTB → 240 Live It! Coins

TTB Coin Values & Scoring Rules

Action	TTB Coins
Correct answer	+100 to 500 (question value)
🏥 Health Bonus (all questions)	2× multiplier on every correct answer
Wrong answer / Time up	−50% of question value
⭐ Power Play correct	+Wager amount × 2 (health bonus)
⭐ Power Play wrong	−50% of wager

All TTB Coins earned are logged to ffh_ttb_earnings_log and auto-credited to the player's FFH Academy profile when connected.

Temperature Gauge Zones

Zone	Score %	Meaning
❄️ Getting Started	0-19%	Keep learning!
🌡️ Warming Up	20-39%	Building knowledge
🔥 HOT!	40-59%	Solid health literacy
🔥🔥 ON FIRE!	60-79%	Health champion level
🔥🔥🔥 LEGENDARY!	80-100%	Space-ready!

Rank Progression (FFH Academy Standard)

Rank	Coins Required
🌱 Newcomer	0
🔍 Health Explorer	500
🏆 Health Champion	2,000
⭐ Health Leader	5,000
👑 Health Legend	10,000

Quick Play vs Academy Play

Feature	Quick Play	Academy Play
Account needed?	No	Yes
Coins earned?	Display only	Credited to profile
Leaderboard	Demo data	Live rankings
Rank progress	Not tracked	Tracked per user
Best for	Demos, drop-in play	Classroom, accountability

In Academy Play mode, each player on a winning team receives the full coin award. Coins from Category Quest contribute toward the player's overall FFH Academy rank and unlock Bingo Card bonus content.

▶ Answer Key (All 30 Questions)

For teacher reference only. Each question shows the correct answer highlighted.

▶ Facilitation Tips

🏫 Classroom Setup

Project the game on a screen or smartboard. For Team Play, assign each team a section of the room. Use keyboard keys 1-4 for physical buzzers or let students tap the on-screen buzz buttons.

⏱ Time Management

Solo mode: ~15 minutes for all 30 questions. Team mode: ~25-30 minutes with buzz-ins and discussion. Power Play adds ~2 minutes for wagering. Budget 5-10 minutes for debrief.

🎯 Differentiation

100-200 questions are recall-based (accessible). 300-500 questions require deeper understanding. Mix team compositions so each team has a range of knowledge levels. Encourage "phone a teammate" moments.

📱 Tech Tips

Works on any device with a browser — phones, tablets, Chromebooks, laptops. For team play on a single projector, the teacher controls question selection and teams buzz in. No app install needed!

Marstronaut^® Basics Category Quest

Choose Your Mission Mode

⚡ Team Setup

⭐ POWER PLAY! ⭐

📋 Teacher's Guide