Junior Space Science Badge Activity
Make a Mars Rover
Explore the surface of Mars and design the next rover to land there.
Activity Details
Time needed: 30 minutes plus 5 minutes to prep and 5 minutes to clean up
Materials needed:
- Art supplies and found objects to build with. Objects can include paper towel rolls, scraps of paper, clean plastic tubs and lids, chipboard from cereal or snack boxes, straws, wooden skewers, string, pencils, glitter, etc
- Scissors
- Glue or masking tape
- Paper
- Pencils
Setup: More than 60 years ago, people launched the first spacecraft and began exploring our solar system. NASA has explored Mars with rovers—robotic vehicles that explore planets. Today, planetary scientists and engineers at universities, research labs, and NASA centers explore planets, moons, and the sun with telescopes, robotic spacecraft, and landers.
Activity: Your challenge is to design the next rover to land on Mars! Begin by exploring the surface of Mars (www.girlscouts.org/SpaceScienceMarsTrek) and learn about NASA’s Missions to Mars (www.girlscouts.org/SpaceScienceNASAMissions). Think about what you’d like to discover and the tools it would require.
Next, gather a variety of objects to create your Mars rover and think about what those objects could represent. Objects can include items around your house such as paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, scraps of paper, straws, string, pencils, glitter, glue, tape, etc.
Now sketch your design on paper and assemble your rover!
When you’re finished making your model, explain to a family member how your rover works.
