Mission Control Teacher Guide Mission Control
Teacher Facilitation Guide: Rover Ramps
Lesson Objective
Students will investigate the engineering behind the Rocker-Bogie system to understand how Mars rovers navigate obstacles without tipping over. They will apply these concepts by building their own rover prototypes.
Materials Needed
Pacing
5m Warm-up
10m Video & Discussion
25m Design Challenge
10m Testing & Closure
Vocabulary
Rover: A robot vehicle that travels on a planet.
Obstacle: Something that gets in the way.
Rocker-Bogie: A 6-wheel system that climbs rocks.
Instructional Steps
1
Warm-up: The Tipping Test
Place a stack of 2-3 books on the floor. Invite a student to push a standard toy car (or a simple LEGO car with 4 wheels) over the books. Ask: "What happened to the car?" (It tipped over or got stuck). Explain that Mars is covered in rocks much bigger than this!
2
Video Insight: Rocker-Bogie
Show the video "Should We Go to Mars?". Focus specifically on the animation from 2:53 to 3:20 . Discuss: How many wheels does the rover have? (6). How do the legs move differently than a normal car?
3
Activity: The Rover Ramps Challenge
Students work in pairs to build a "Rover" using provided materials. The Goal: The vehicle must roll over a pencil or a small ruler without tipping over or the body touching the floor. Encourage them to think about flexible wheel attachments or wide wheelbases .
4
Closure: Martian Showcase
Set up a "Mars Path" with pencils and small books. Let students test their rovers. Debrief: "Which designs were the most stable? Did anyone use more than 4 wheels? How did your design help it stay flat?"
Differentiation
Scaffold (1st Grade): Provide a pre-built base and ask them to add wheels of different sizes to see which works best.Extension (3rd Grade): Challenge students to build a rover that can clear an obstacle as tall as the rover's own body.
Common Pitfalls
Students may focus on speed instead of stability. Remind them: "Mars isn't a race track, it's a rocky climb!"
Check that tape isn't touching the "wheels," or they won't spin!
Rover Ramps Slides Engineering Mission
Rover
Ramps
Designing a Rocker-Bogie System for the Red Planet
Mission Control: 1st - 3rd Grade
The Tipping Test
What happens when a normal toy car tries to drive over a stack of books?
It gets stuck!
It flips over!
Mars isn't flat like a road!
🏎️
📚
Meet the Mars Rovers
Watch: How the rovers move over rocky ground!
Embedded media
Watch carefully at 2:53 for the "Rocker-Bogie" animation!
The Rocker-Bogie System
6
Six Wheels
More wheels means more grip and balance!
Individual Motors
Every wheel has its own motor to help it climb.
Level Body
The legs move so the scientific tools stay steady.
Your Mission
The Goal:
Build a vehicle that can roll over a pencil without flipping or getting stuck!
The Supplies:
LEGOs, Cardboard, Straws, Tape, Spools, and imagination!
Mission Rules
Must have wheels
Must clear the obstacle
Must stay upright
Mission Debrief
Why did some rovers clear the pencil easily?
How does your design look like the Rocker-Bogie system?
Great job, engineers!
Rover Blueprint Worksheet Rover Blueprint
Mission: Martian Terrain Challenge
Explorer:
Date:
1
Phase 1: Design Your Rover
Sketch your rover design below. How will it roll over the pencil without tipping?
2
Supply List
LEGOs
Spools
Straws
Cardboard
3
Test Log
Did your rover clear the pencil?
✅ Yes
❌ No
Did it stay upright (no tipping)?
👍 Yes
👎 No
4
Mission Report
What is one thing you would change to make your rover even better?
NASA Authorized Engineering Spec 2026-X
Rover Ramps Rubric Mission Assessment
Rover Ramps Engineering Rubric
Teacher Resource
Purpose
Use this rubric to evaluate student rover prototypes during the testing phase. The focus is on stability and engineering intent rather than speed or aesthetics.
Criteria 3 - Mission Ready 2 - Testing Needed 1 - Design Re-Entry Stability (The Tipping Factor) Rover cleared the obstacle and stayed completely upright. No tipping. Rover cleared the obstacle but wobbled or almost tipped over. Rover flipped over or fell apart when hitting the obstacle. Obstacle Clearing (Belly Clearance) Body of the rover stayed level and high enough to clear the pencil easily. Rover dragged slightly over the pencil but made it across. Rover got stuck on the pencil or its body was too low. Design Intent (Rocker-Bogie Link) Student used 6+ wheels or a flexible frame to mimic a suspension system. Student attempted a unique wheel/axle setup different from a standard car. Student built a standard 4-wheel vehicle with no modifications for rocks. Blueprint & Log (Documentation) Blueprint is detailed and clearly shows the final design. Reflection is thoughtful. Blueprint is present but lacks detail. Test log is complete. Blueprint is incomplete or does not match the built rover.
Mission Notes / Observations
Engineering Standards Aligned (K-2-ETS1-2)
Rover Ramps Mission Control
