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Mars Rovers
New activity
Players acting as "Mission Control" and a "Rover" must work together to navigate a large obstacle course.
Open Activity
How-to Video
Teacher's Guide
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
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.