The Arizona STEM �Acceleration Project

2025

Students engineer a working Mars Rover to transport supplies through rough terrain

Janelle Moran

Sphero Rover Challenge

7th Grade

The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Notes for teachers

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The time a class will need will really depend on their background knowledge and how often they have participated in previous stem projects.

Notes for Teacher

• This lesson takes place in a large open space.
• 3-4 days
• 1 class period of 45-60 min.
• Student groups of 2-4 students.
• An emphasis on communication and problem solving
• Creative solutions should be encouraged
• Facilitate student reflection on collaboration and communication.
• Encourage students to connect to scientific topics.

List of Materials

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• Rover: Sphero Bolt & K’nex

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• Possible items for the Payload: Assorted materials like rock, marbles, sticks, etc

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• Possible items for the Rough Terrain: Cardboard, bubble wrap, sand paper, styrofoam boards, etc

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• Rover EDP

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• 3-2-1 Reflection

Standards

7.P3U1.4: Use non-algebraic mathematics and computational thinking to explain Newton’s laws of motion.

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Science and Engineering Practices:

• ask questions and define problems
• develop and use models
• plan and carry out investigations
• analyze and interpret data
• use mathematics and computational thinking
• construct explanations and design solutions
• engage in argument from evidence
• obtain, evaluate, and communicate information

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ELA Standards

7.RI.7 Compare and contrast a text to an audio, video, or multimedia version of the text, analyzing each medium’s portrayal of the subject (e.g., how the delivery of a speech affects the impact of the words).

7.SL.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one‐on‐one, in groups, and teacher‐led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Objectives:

• Students are going to create a construction vehicle (Rover) out of k’nex materials and sphero to hold and move objects.
• Their “Rover” must be able to hold objects safely while commuting.
• Students will code their sphero from the pick up site to the drop off location.
• Students will use the Engineer Design Process to record their learning.

Agenda (4 days, 45-60 minutes per day)

Day 1: Introduce the Storyline and Challenge, brainstorm their first design and collaborate with their group and decide on a plan.

Day 2: Review the constraints/limitations, their chosen plans, and begin construction.

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Day 3: Complete construction and test their products.

Day 4: Complete their reflection to assess and present to the class.

Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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Today we are going to imagine that we are working with NASA on a mission on Mars. Through the course of our adventure, we have come into an issue where we need to move heavy items and transport them to a location further away. To simulate this on a smaller scale, we are going to create our own mini construction vehicle to transport heavier items to a specific location.

Hands-on Activity Instructions

• Preview simple machines video
• Student groups of 2-3

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Review

• Overall Goal
• Constraints
• List of materials
• Collaboration Expectations
• Complete what’s on the Agenda daily

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Goal: Create a Rover to help your team on Mars to move heavier items to a location further away.

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Constraints:

• Sphero Bolt (power to move objects)
• K’nex (create a bed to hold items to move)
• Pick up location & drop off location (once loaded, code your sphero to the drop off location)

Assessment

• Rover EDP - Students will complete this as they move through their engineering process and document their thinking.

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• 3-2-1 Reflection - Students will complete this on the last day

Differentiation

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

If students are having difficulty with the k’next building portion of the activity, the teacher could:

• K’nex Truck video
• Practice building with student using the book
• Group student with a stronger student that will communicate well with that student.

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If the students are having difficulty with the coding portion of the challenge, have students just use the sphero to “Drive” freely instead of coding.

Enrichment: Give students additional materials to engineer an add on to their rover to pick up the materials.

Extension: give students an opportunity to engineer their own challenge using the same materials.