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About the Workshop
By the end of this activity, students will be able to name and order all of the planets in our solar system.
Students will be able to give some key facts about each planet, specifically Mars and will understand the need for Mars rovers and have some understanding of how they are controlled.
The session is broken down into 3 sections, Wonders of the solar system, Mission To Mars and Mission On Mars.
In their exploration of the solar system students will learn the order and name of all planets in the solar system. Students will be taught a mnemonic for remembering the order of the planets and then work in groups to create their own.
We will then explore Mars and why scientists are so interested in the red planet, before it is time to pack for a trip to Mars. It will take 7 months to get there, meaning we need to make sure we have enough to survive for that time. Students will select the items they want to take with them and then calculate the weight of their space craft to ensure it is not too heavy to take off.
The students will learn about the Mars rovers that have been used in the past and why we need them now, and then we can deploy our own rovers. The students use handheld controllers to navigate metal VEX robots around the surface of Mars, collecting samples and bringing them back to the collection zone. Students will be using their teamwork, communication, creativity and leadership skills.
This activity works well with:
Student Learning
Gatsby Benchmark 4 - Linking curriculum learning to careers.
Curriculum Links:
Science – Describe the movement of the Earth and other planets relative to the sun in the solar system.
English – Following instructions, speaking, listening, sharing ideas and presenting.
Maths – add and subtract numbers mentally
Key skills: students will be using teamwork, creativity, speaking and listening, leadership and perseverance.
Logistics and Planning
Logistics and Planning:
The session is designed for around 30 learners and requires a hall space for the robot part of the session and a classroom with screen and projector for the other parts of the session.
The activities can range from 1 – 2 hours.
We ask that a teacher is always present throughout the activities, to support learner engagement and manage behaviour.
Space Discovery Workshop
Workshops can be booked on their own and delivered on rotation throughout the day or delivered as part of a series of workshops,
where classes rotate between multiple activities.
Groups of approximately 30 learners
Keystage 2
1-2 hours