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Mars Rovers

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Players acting as "Mission Control" and a "Rover" must work together to navigate a large obstacle course.

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Provides classroom connections, key concepts, connections to science standards, and additional resources.

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Hints for uses in your library This activity was developed as part of a toolkit for museum staff and includes a suite of online resources in English and Spanish to engage learners in any setting. As written, a participant uses a magnetic white board and arrow-shaped magnets to keep track of their directions through the obstacle course. Arrow-shaped magnets can be purchased from education and office supply retailers and re-used for this an other activities.

The Mars Rovers activity is great for many types of disabilities. You may need to do some modifications to the set up or the instructions in order to make it more accessible. If you have someone who is blind and is “Mission Control” try using tactile directions to help them help their “Rover” counterpart navigate. This can done with magnets, puff paint, or even pins in a corkboard. If your “Rover” is in a wheel chair, but can use his or her arms and hands easily, try giving them a grabber tool to help them pick up the item. Having a grabber can be fun for any child to use who is playing the “Rover.”
By Lisa Hellman
Wolfner Talking Book and Braille Library
Lisa.Hellman@sos.mo.gov
Related Links Websites:
Zip file with activity instructions and images in English and Spanish
NASA’s Be a Martian
Be a Martian and get the latest Mars news, images, and information and be part of a community of explorers.
Globus, Al (May 07, 2016). “Space Settlement Basics.”
Will We Ever Colonize Mars?
Mars Exploration Program
Mars in Our Solar System
What is Mars?

Images:
Mars Exploration
Pat Rawlings Space Art
Some images follow the NASA media usage guidelines and may be used for educational or informational purposes. Please note the copyright status of the specific image of interest.

Slideshows:
Understanding Martian Resources and Environmental Constraints

Videos:
Enduring the Journey to Mars | MARS: How to Get to Mars
NASA ScienceCasts: New InSight into the Red Planet
ScienceCasts: What Happened to Mars? A Planetary Mystery
ScienceCasts: The Opposition of Mars
Mars Insight Landing
NISE Network: Mars Rover Content Training Video
Originating Source The Science Museum of Minnesota
Related Books
[Suggest a book]
In Space by Ian Graham
Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover by Markus Motum
How to Be a Space Explorer: Your Out-of-this-World Adventure by Mark Brake
Mars by Elizabeth Carney
Curiosity's Mission on Mars: Exploring the Red Planet by Ron Miller
Spaceships and Rockets by Deborah Lock
Max Goes to the Moon: A Science Adventure with Max the Dog by Jeffrey O Bennett and Alan Okamoto
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach
Astronomy: Cool Women in Space by Anita Yasuda and Lena Chandhok
CatStronauts by Drew Brockington

Reviews

 
Rating 
Participants Enjoyed the Activity 
Participants Learned from This Activity 
Activity Instructions Were Clear and Easy to Follow 
Would Recommend 
06/19/2019

Easy and fun!

I did this with a group of 6 tweens and they had a lot of fun and realized just how hard it is to take and give clear instructions to make something happen. You can make this as easy or as difficult as you like.

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Mars Rovers

Mars Rovers

Players acting as "Mission Control" and a "Rover" must work together to navigate a large obstacle course.