In this standards-aligned unit, students learn about Mars, design a mission to explore the planet, build and test model spacecraft and components, and engage in scientific exploration.

Students play a strategy card game that requires them to use problem-solving to successfully explore the Moon and Mars.

Whip up a moon-like crater with baking ingredients as a demonstration for students.

In this engineering challenge, students must stay within design limitations while creating a balloon and gondola system that can descend or ascend at a given rate or maintain its altitude.

In this advanced programming activity, students will construct a light-wavelength detector to model future technology for communicating with spacecraft.

These 60-second videos answer some of the most frequently asked questions about our planetary neighbor, Mars, and the spacecraft that explore it.

In this board-game lesson, students learn basic computer programming skills by playing the roles of a Mars rover, scientist and engineer to make exploration decisions and accomplish science goals.

Students build a rubber-band-powered rover that can scramble across the room.

Students design and build a shock-absorbing system that will protect two "astronauts" when they land.