Pneumatic Device Mars STEM Challenge (Engineering Design)
Design a pneumatic device that can pick up a soil sample on Mars! This is a great space-themed STEM engineering design challenge.
Grades: 5th - 8th
Teaching Duration: 2 weeks
Design a pneumatic device that can pick up a soil sample on Mars! This is a great space-themed STEM engineering design challenge.
Grades: 5th - 8th
Teaching Duration: 2 weeks
Design a pneumatic device that can pick up a soil sample on Mars! This is a great space-themed STEM engineering design challenge.
Grades: 5th - 8th
Teaching Duration: 2 weeks
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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