Space Rover STEM Engineering Design Challenge (Middle School STEM)
NASA needs your help! Your mission is to use the engineering design process to design and build a rover to transport rock samples on the Moon or Mars (both versions included).
Grades: 5th - 9th
Teaching Duration: 3 hours
“This was exactly what I was looking for to add to our Mars STEM PBL. ”
lesson overview
Mars & Moon Rover STEM Activity: Engineering Design Challenge with Math Extension
Includes editable digital and printed STEM journals, instructional video, and teacher slides.
NASA needs your help! Your mission is to use the engineering design process to design and build a rover to transport rock samples on the Moon or Mars (both versions included).
This hands-on activity is an engaging design challenge that allows students to work in teams (or individually), apply the engineering design process, and connect math topics to real-world applications.
Engineering Challenge: Students will use a vibrating motor and coin cell battery to power a mini rover. The students will need to design and build a rover to transport a ping pong ball using materials such as paper cups, construction paper, tape, and index cards.
Real-world STEM Connection: The product includes an instructional video that guides students through the design challenge. The video includes an interview with a robotics engineer and discusses current NASA rovers.
As with many STEM activities, this challenge can be tailored to students of various skill levels and abilities.
Included in this product:
Detailed teachers guide with links to resources
Teacher Slides
Photos of student examples
Student handouts to guide them through the design process
Instructional video led by an engineer with an interview of a robotics engineer
Editable Google Slides STEM journal for distance learning
STEM Career Connection on Robotics Engineer & Electrical Engineer
STEM Real-World Connection on NASA VIPER rover
Student recording sheet for each step of the process
Math connection problems including rates and speed
Recommended Materials:
Scissors
Clear tape
Coin Cell Battery (3V)
Bendy Straws
Index cards or cardstock
Optional for younger students: paper cup
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Bring Space Club to your school! If you are interested in a space-themed curriculum, check out our Space Club program that connect students from around the world!
Looking for more STEM lessons? Find the Vivify resource guide here: bit.ly/VivifyResourceGuide
