Pneumatic Device Mars STEM Challenge (Engineering Design)

lesson overview

Design a pneumatic device that can pick up a soil sample on Mars! This is a great space-themed STEM engineering design challenge.

Activity Overview: Our rover has landed on Mars and will be drilling to dislodge soil samples. NASA has tasked your engineering company to design a way to lift up soil samples for collection. Your device will work using air pressure, also known as pneumatics. A pneumatic device is lightweight and ideal for devices on a faraway planet. 

Students will first learn about pneumatic systems, make a simple pneumatic system and then create a pneumatic device that can pick up a soil sample on Mars.  

Real-world STEM Connection:

• Overview of NASA's Mission to Mars

• How Pneumatic Devices Work

• Examples of Pneumatic Devices in the Real World

• Career Connection: NASA engineers and scientists working at JPL

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

• Photos and videos of student examples

• Student handouts to guide them through the design process

• Videos to motivate and support learning

• Editable Google Slides STEM journal for distance learning

• STEM Career Connections and real-world examples

• Science handouts

• Student recording sheet for each step of the process

Suggested Materials: Many different materials can be used for this challenge. Here are some suggestions that worked well for our students.

• Syringe and tubing (Amazon)

• popsicle sticks (large &/or small)

• pipe cleaners

• cardboard

• card stock

• construction paper

• cardboard tubes

• rubber bands

• straws

• paper cups

• paper clips

• string

• masking tape

• scissors

• ruler

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Looking for more STEM lessons? Find the Vivify resource guide here: bit.ly/VivifyResourceGuide

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