STEM At Home Activity: Build a Rover

Originally Posted: September 24, 2020
Updated: June 2024

STEM Space At Home Video Challenge

STEM Space At Home is a video series led by an engineer using materials you can find at home. The videos are intended to support elementary and middle school students through fun engineering design challenges with a real-world connection. Find all episodes here.

How to participate:

1. Download the student handouts found in our Free Explorer Lesson Library. The file can be printed or used with Google Slides.

2. Watch the video posted below for science content, engineering design tips, and an in-depth explanation by a real engineer!

3. Post your design using #𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 and TAG US on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! We will share our favorites!

STEM Space At-Home is brought to you by Vivify STEM and Communities In Schools of San Antonio through the NASA program “New Worlds Await You” led by the WEX Foundation.

Download the activity guide found in our Free Explorer Lesson Library. The file can be printed or used with Google Slides.

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Rover Design STEM Challenge

Mission: Design and build a rover to transport rock samples.

Materials needed: Watch the video for more details.

• Scissors & Tape

• 1 Coin Cell battery

• 1 Vibrating motor

• 2 Bendy straws

• 1 Ping Pong Ball

• 1 piece of construction paper

• 1 piece of card stock

Before starting the video, download the activity guide found in our free resource library.

Additional Resources:

Need a more in-depth STEM activity guide? Check out Vivify’s classroom guide that includes:

• Detailed teachers guide with links to resources

• Photos of student examples

• Student handouts to guide them through the design process

• 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

More rover STEM:

• Space Rover Challenge: Students will build a rubber band powered rover to complete an exciting mission. They will then practice using Pi to analyze their design with imaginative math extension questions.

Learn more about rovers:

• Video about how rovers get to Mars

• Video about testing the Curiosity Rover on Earth

Good luck engineers! We can’t wait to see your rover design! Don’t forget to post your design using #𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 and tag us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!

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