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WVU SpacePrep: Martian Motion

This exciting high school specific variant of the Wiggle Bot immersion called SpacePrep: Martian Motion, engages students in challenges related to space exploration and remote repair. Students explore basic electrical circuits using Snap Circuits, then, they use their acquired electrical knowledge to build wiggle-bots in a challenge to make a bot capable of transporting critical supplies.

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Key Topics:Electrical circuits, space, engineering design, collaboration

Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communications

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

Manufacturing

“Students demonstrated grit as they constructed, tested, and modified their wiggle bots. Students, as a team, analyzed success and difficulties and adjusted their ideas and methods based on these.” - West Virginia teacher

Immersion Agenda

  • Pique interest with a short introduction
  • Examine high-interest examples of rover sensors
  • Briefly discuss relevant concepts
  • Detail safety precautions
  • Students work work in groups to complete different electrical circuits using Snap Circuits
  • Students work in groups using engineering design thinking to build their Wiggle Bot
  • Groups make are while testing and adjusting their bots
  • Students reflect on their work
  • Short whole group discussion on waves with recaps on successes, difficulties, and unexpected events
  • Connections to career clusters
  • Possibilities for "What's Next?"