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Grades 3–5

Online Mars Rover Explorer Project

Grades 3–54 hrs 30 minsNGSS aligned

Students design, build, test, and improve their own Mars rover in Qweebi's online Makerspace while learning forces, motion, and Newton's Second Law.

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  • No supplies needed
  • No downloads or installs
  • Ready-to-run lessons
Model Mars rover with a propeller design built for rocky Martian terrain

Works on Chromebooks, Windows, and Mac

Project Snapshot

  • Grade Level

    Grades 3–5

  • Duration

    4 hrs 30 mins

  • Teacher Prep

    Under 30 minutes

  • Career Connection

    Robotics Engineer

  • Core Concepts

    Forces, Motion, Newton's Second Law

  • Standards

    NGSS: 3-PS2, 3-5-ETS1

How This Project Works in Class

In 4.5 hours, students go from exploring a real Mars rover mission to planning, building, testing, and improving a rover that can travel across rocky Martian terrain.

  1. 1

    Meet the Mars Rover Challenge

    The Hook · 10 min

    Students watch a real NASA Mars Sample Return mission video and preview the challenge of designing a rover that can travel across rocky Martian terrain.

  2. 2

    Build and Learn About Your Rover

    Engineering & Science Bootcamp · 170 min

    Students learn to navigate Qweebi's Makerspace, gather supplies, glue and wire rover parts together, and explore the science behind how rovers move — including propeller propulsion and Newton's Second Law.

    Screenshot of a Qweebi challenge teaching forces, motion, and Newton's Second Law for Mars rover design
  3. 3

    Plan Your Mars Rover

    Final EDP Challenge · 45 min

    Students study the Martian terrain, identify design challenges, and use the Engineering Design Process to plan their rover's design.

    Screenshot of the Mars rover builder interface in Qweebi's online Makerspace
  4. 4

    Build, Test, and Share Your Rover

    Reflection · 45 min

    Students build their rover prototype in Qweebi, test and improve its performance, then record and submit a show-and-tell video explaining how it works.

    Screenshot of a student recording a show-and-tell video of their Mars rover in Qweebi

What Teacher Resources Are Included

Everything you need to prep, launch, and run the Mars Rover Explorer project with confidence.

  • Teacher Slides

    Ready-to-present Google Slides with built-in speaker notes.

  • Student Journals

    Google Docs journals where students record observations, explanations, and reflections.

  • Built-In Qweebi Challenges

    Interactive challenges build science intuition and prepare students for the final design challenge.

  • Step-by-Step Teacher Guide

    A clear guide walks you through how to launch and run your Qweebi project.

What Other Teachers Are Saying

More than 100 teachers have brought the Mars Rover Explorer project to their classrooms.

  • Space and engineering
    "I love how this project teaches them more about space, rovers, and planets while also enhancing their engineering skills."
    Photo of Brianna Gamble, teacher at Piedmont Charter Elementary School, North Carolina

    Brianna Gamble

    Teacher

    Piedmont Charter Elementary School

    North Carolina, USA

  • No materials
    "My students have loved building the rovers, being able to make multiple iterations to test out, and of course, the leaderboard aspect. I love that it gives my students a maker space where I don't have to store anything or buy materials."
    Photo of Carey Feltmeyer, STEM Teacher at United Intermediate School, Illinois

    Carey Feltmeyer

    STEM Teacher

    United Intermediate School

    Illinois, USA

  • Creative engineering
    "My students absolutely loved it! They built really creative working rovers and really understood forces, electricity, Newton's laws, and the whole idea that engineering design is a cyclic process."

    Caitlin Heyes

    STEM Teacher

    St. John the Apostle Catholic School

    Virginia, USA

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I try the Mars Rover Explorer project for free?
Yes. When you sign up for Qweebi, you can try 2 projects free, including the Mars Rover Explorer project, with unlimited classes and students.
What grade levels is this project best for?
Mars Rover Explorer is designed for grades 3–5. Students explore forces, motion, and Newton's Second Law while using the Engineering Design Process to design, test, and improve a rover for a Mars mission.
How long does the project take?
The project takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes. Most teachers run it across five or six class periods, depending on their schedule.
Do I need any supplies or kits?
No. Students design, test, and improve their Mars rovers in Qweebi's online Makerspace, so there are no physical kits, materials, storage, or cleanup.
What devices does it work on?
Qweebi works on Chromebooks, Windows, and Mac computers with a web browser and internet connection. Nothing needs to be downloaded or installed.
Do I need an engineering or robotics background to teach this project?
No. The project includes ready-to-present teacher slides, student journals, built-in Qweebi challenges, and a step-by-step teacher guide to help you run it with confidence.

Ready to Run the Mars Rover Explorer Project With Your Students?

Try it free with your class — minimal prep, no supplies, and nothing to lose.

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