Fifth Graders Explore Life Beyond Earth, from LEGOs to Mars Landings

Fifth grade students have spent science classes immersed in studying the solar system, modeling size and scale and learning about the quest to find life beyond Earth. Students and teachers discussed the reasons for developing probes and rovers and explored the benefitis of striving to send astronauts to, and eventually building bases on the Moon and other planets. They also examined the extreme engineering challenges involved in these endeavors. 

During this study, students used LEGO Spike Prime robots as simulated rovers, programming them to accomplish tasks and overcome challenges to navigate a simplified model of Jezero Crater, the investigation site of the latest rover, Perseverance. To bring this lesson to life with a real scientist, students spent a class period on Zoom with Dr. Ashwin R. Vasavada, a leading expert on Mars exploration who currently serves as project scientist for NASA.

Dr. Vasavada talked about the journey of the Curiosity rover and the challenges the science teams worked through to gather information showing the once-habitability of Mars. He made parallels between the geologic history of Earth and Mars and explained current thinking as to what happened to the Earth-like climate that is believed to have existed on Mars. 

Students appreciated his stories, along with images and illustrations of Mars and Curiosity, as he shared highlights of the challenges the Curiosity rover scientific teams faced. He also related the interests that brought him to this career, as well as the educational and professional experiences that prepared him to become the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory project scientist.

Dr. Vasavada answered the students’ questions with a smile and remarked on the high level of enthusiasm and thoughtfulness they exhibited. 

Parker thanks Science teacher James Audrain and Intermediate and Middle School STEM and Coding teacher John Navin for working with Bender to bring Dr. Vasavada to the 5th grade science class to bring learning to life.

Enjoy photos from this curriculum here.