Why Space Mission Control works

Operate mission control by sending a crew a short sequence of tasks and tracking which instructions are complete. Read or announce the first mission task. Wait for the crew to report completion.

Set up — Read or announce the first mission task

Prepare household items before the child is asked to read or announce the first mission task. The setup is ready when the child can read or announce the first mission task and then move on to the instruction to wait for the crew to report completion without a new explanation. Keep props ordinary and safe, and do not copy real hazardous, medical, or emergency procedures while those two steps are connected.

Step 2 — Wait for the crew to report completion

One careful attempt to wait for the crew to report completion is enough at this stage. Before the child tries to mark the task complete on the board, ask them to show or describe what differed from when they had to read or announce the first mission task.

Step 3 — Mark the task complete on the board

Use the result of asking the child to mark the task complete on the board as a clue for the next decision. Do not move on to send the next instruction only after the report until this step has a clear purpose.

Step 4 — Send the next instruction only after the report

Ask the child to send the next instruction only after the report. Compare what happens with the earlier step to mark the task complete on the board, then continue by asking them to finish with a summary of mission status and any incomplete task once the difference is clear.

Step 5 — Finish with a summary of mission status and any incomplete task

Let the child finish with a summary of mission status and any incomplete task and treat the result as information rather than simple repetition. If it is unclear, repeat that action before asking them to finish with a summary of mission status and any incomplete task.

What to notice before Finish with a summary of mission status and…

After the child has tried to send the next instruction only after the report, ask what changed. An answer connected to the earlier attempt to mark the task complete on the board is good evidence of whether the next pretend action follows from what the characters just did before the final step.

Make Mark the task complete on the board easier or harder

If asking the child to mark the task complete on the board is too demanding, use one role, one place, and one short problem. Once that step is comfortable, add a second responsibility, clue, customer, or consequence that must be handled in order before returning to the final request to finish with a summary of mission status and any incomplete task.

Finish after Finish with a summary of mission status and…

Finish with a summary of mission status and any incomplete task. A brief look back at the result is enough before ending the session. Browse the activity search for a different mechanic, or use the activity generator.