2. Mars Here We Come! The 2011 Mars Rover Model Celebration - An Overview of the Curricula & Resources

3. A Legacy Event From The New Face of Space Exciting the Next Generation Educational Events and Activities at the World Space Congress 2002 and the

4. What is the Mars Rover Celebration?  Primary and middle school (Grades 3-8) students.  Design and build a model of a Mars Rover.  Select a specific science mission on Mars.  The model will be a minimal cost mock-up, constructed of mostly found/recycled objects.  A low-cost solar-powered car kit ($10) or radio-controlled car ($25) may serve as the chassis.

5. Contestant

6. Motivation  Provide very low-cost alternative to true robotics programs  Develop flexible curriculum module that covers planetary science & aerospace engineering  Excite and motivate future engineers & scientists

7. Rooted in the schools  Based on JPL’s Mars Millennium project  Brought to Houston by Mayor’s SparkPark project  Refined and further developed by Holly Smith, Bendwood Elementary, SBISD

8. Mars Unit Overview  Research the characteristics of Mars  Investigate the features of NASA’s probes  Power for Probes – Solar Racer (optional)  Design teams decide on mission & rover features, & create initial draft with the criteria in mind  Build rovers using craft materials  Plan presentation to share their team’s Mars Rover  Compete in the Mars Rover Celebration, Jan. 30, 2010

9. Research the Red Planet  Learn about the features & conditions on Mars  Gather information critical for a Mars space probe  Use various sources – Internet, NASA materials, videos, CD- ROMS, DVDs, etc.  Share information in a fun way – have student groups teach the class about their findings.

10. Research space probes  Learn how space probes communicate and conduct experiments on Mars  See how space probes are designed to survive in harsh conditions  Learn how rovers are designed & tested  Share facts & findings  Note mission similarities

11. Learning About Mars & Probes  Take a field trip to NASA’s Space Center Houston  Invite guest speakers to talk to the class about Mars, space probes or robotics  Ask questions online with NASA experts

12. Powering Probes : Solar Racer  Great for learning about solar power and experimenting with various kinds of propulsion  Cost: $10 per kit – teams of about 2-3 are practical  Fun for races, analyzing design & propulsion strategies

13. Solar Racer Kits  Solar Racer Kit 1 available from www.kelvin.com, a Pisco Sunzoon Lite Kit or equivalent (less than $15).www.kelvin.com Pisco Sunzoon Lite Kit  How To Video – Solar Racers available as a starting guide  Tools & supplies – knives, balsa wood, fine grain Styrofoam, soldering iron, markers, and glue guns

14. Tips for Creating A Solar Racer  Formal instruction on pieces in the kit, the assembly options, steps & pitfalls  Emphasize safety using the tools – knives & glue guns  Show finished a sample of each type of propulsion  Lots of parent helpers to help solder & assist teams

15. Rover Planning: Mission on Mars  Begin completing the leading questions in the Mars Rover Guide Begin completing the leading questions in the Mars Rover Guide  Obtain consensus on 2-3 objectives for their mission Obtain consensus on 2-3 objectives for their mission  Examine map of Mars to locate a landing site to accomplish mission goals

16.  Brainstorm the technology and features needed to accomplish their mission  Brainstorm features to handle the harsh conditions – cold, dust, rough terrain.  Sketch initial design incorporating team’s ideas Rover Planning: Mission on Mars

17. Build your Rovers  Review Mars conditions  Review highlights of NASA’s probes to Mars  Review the criteria for the 2011 Mars Rover Celebration Review the criteria for the 2011 Mars Rover Celebration  Form Rover Design Teams of 3-4 members

18. The Rover Team  Emphasize teamwork and group decision making  Use various arts & craft supplies along with materials available from the store – foil, cups, Styrofoam trays, straws, spoons, etc.  Use book tape & hot glue for assembly of the pieces

19. Presenting the Mission  Explain the criteria for the presentations - rubric  Encourage creativity with skits, props and costumes  Explain key features and the rover’s capabilities in the extreme conditions  Develop scripts & practice

20. Presenting the Mission  The day is here! Share rovers and creative ideas for future exploration  Encourage probing and clarifying questions from the audience  Evaluate rovers and presentations based on established criteria - rubric Evaluate rovers and presentations based on established criteria - rubric

21. Resources For Mars Rover Project Johnson Space Center Educator Resource Center Space Center Houston 1601 NASA Rd. 1 (281-244-2129) Free for Teachers

22. Mars Rover Competition Website http://marsrover.phys.uh.edu/ Items of Interest: Schedule Contest Rules Entry Form Resources Mars Here We Come Slideshow

23. Teaming up for the mission

24. Sharing the project  Lights, camera … skit!

25. The judging set-up

26. Winners!

27. 2011 Celebration Schedule Teacher Training Workshop  September 25, 9-4, Room 232 Phillip G. Hoffman Hall, UH Mars Rover Model Celebration  January 29, 12-6, Houston Room, University Center, UH Forms for registration and entry can be found on the Mars Rover website, www.marsrover.org

28. Teacher Training Workshop September 25, 9-12, Room 232 Phillip G. Hoffman Hall, UH  Register by September 15 (late registration will be accepted as late as morning of)  $25 fee, includes one sample solar kit and lunch  Taught by UH professors and staff and middle school science teacher  CPE Certificate

29. Mars Rover Celebration 2011 January 29, 2011 12-6, Houston Room, University Center, UH  Enter by November 15 at www.marsrover.orgwww.marsrover.org  Capacity is 180 models. Nominal entry size will be three teams’ models per grade level per school. Minimum is one. Actual maximum will be determined when entries close.  Event includes UH campus science tour, Mars presentation, NASA speakers, and STEM-related exhibits.

30. Mars Here We Come! January 29, 2011 For more information, please contact Dr. Edgar A. Bering, eabering@uh.edu, oreabering@uh.edu Jennifer James, Director of Communications, TLC 2, jtjames@tlc2.uh.edu jtjames@tlc2.uh.edu

31. The 2010-11 Mars Rover Model Competition - An Overview of the Curricula & Resources Holly Smith, Chad GoGan, Karen Staley, et al.