Teach Engineering
Strong-Arm Tactics
Experience collecting rock samples using a robotic arm with an activity that has pairs work together to operate a robotic arm. One pupil serves as the eyes and the other operates the controller. The objective is to be the fastest pair to...
Teach Engineering
Six Minutes of Terror
Help your class understand the design challenges when trying to land a remote spacecraft on a planet. Class members examine the provided information to understand how each component of a spacecraft is designed in order to safely land a...
Curated OER
Communication Delay
Construct a maze in your classroom and have a blindfolded scientist act as a space rover, maneuvering unfamiliar terrain while another scientist plays commander. Classmates record the number of occurrences of the commander having to...
Curated OER
Good Vibrations Remote Sensing data Collection: Thermal Emission Spectrometer
The Mars Global Surveyor spent two years creating a mineral map of the planet Mars using thermal emission spectrometry. To help young astronomers understand this remote sensing instrument, have them simulate how data is collected and...
Curated OER
Mars Rover Races
Students simulate driving a rover in Mars. In this space science lesson plan, students navigate an obstacle while blindfolded and guided by verbal commands only. They assess the challenges encountered by astronauts in operating a rover.
Curated OER
Rover Races
Students simulate driving a rover on the surface of Mars. For this space science lesson, students identify the challenges experienced by astronauts in operating a vehicle. They recommend some changes to make their 'rover' better.
Curated OER
Mars rovers' Next Stop: IMAX
Students read an article and discuss it. In this Mars rover lesson students complete an activity that allows them to see things through a different viewpoint.
Curated OER
Robots from Junk
Students create balloon and rubber band models of robotic rovers to investigate the concepts of mass, torque, and friction. Through research and planning, students construct a rover test-bed that simulates the Martian environment.
![Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Roving on the Moon (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/39870-7d15b39a7cd630b206093ca5e091b6de.jpg?1661243845 "Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Roving on the Moon (Pdf) [Pdf] Handout")
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Roving on the Moon (Pdf) [Pdf]
Hands-on challenge to build a rubber band-powered cardboard car (rover) that can scramble across the room. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to build, test, evaluate, and redesign the car if necessary. Activity focuses on...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Mission to Mars
The Mission to Mars curricular unit introduces students to Mars-the Red Planet. Students discover why scientists are so interested in studying this mysterious planet. Many interesting facts about Mars are revealed, and the history of...
NASA
Nasa: Mars Pathfinder Archives
Snapshots and home video from our trip to Mars. High resolution images, 3-D pictures, and stereo pairs and related files.
NASA
Nasa: Mars Exploration Rover Mission: Animation
This series of animations will take you from Earth to the Red Planet in less than ten minutes. The animation series begins with the initial launch and journey through the Earth's atmosphere. Entry into Mars, its landing and exploration...
Other
Mars Quest Online: Mars Rovers
Interviews, simulations, and facts will help to appreciate the efforts of Martian rovers.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: How Curiosity Got Us to Mars
In August 2012, the Curiosity rover landed on Mars. The landing itself was a huge achievement and required a lot of forethought and planning by a very smart team. Bobak Ferdowsi, the mohawked member of that team, outlines various aspects...
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Rock Around the World
Classes from around the country collect rock samples and send them in to be analyzed by NASA scientists.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Egg Cellent Landing
The purpose of this activity is to recreate the classic egg-drop experiment with an analogy to the Mars rover landing. The concept of terminal velocity will be introduced, and students will perform several velocity calculations. Also,...
NASA
Nasa: Mars Pathfinder
Images of Mars from the surface of the Red Planet. The site includes 3-D images and animations of the Mars Pathfinder.
Other
Motorline: Motorsport
Austrian Racing site in German with many images that can be navigated by beginners. Numerous links to images, games, screen savers, motorcycles, Formula 1 racing (Formel 1) and cars in general (Autowelt).
PBS
Pbs Teachers:journey to Mars: Houston, We Have a Problem!
Build a rover vehicle and test your remote driving abilities by observing its surroundings through a camcorder or video camera monitor display.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: The Frontiers Decade: Decade in Space
Investigate the invention of the Pathfinder rover's landing apparatus by designing, constructing and testing an original model of a bouncing lander. Compete to see which landers work best to keep the cargo from breaking.