Exploring Mars: Spirit and Opportunity

Lesson 13
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ELA

Alternate Unit 4

5th Grade

Lesson 13 of 33

Objective


Develop and design a communication protocol for rovers using the engineering and design process. 

Readings and Materials


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Target Task


Writing Prompt

Explain the steps your team took to establish clear communication procedures for your rover

Which changes worked well in the second round of rover races? Why? 

Which changes did not work well in the second round of rover races? Why? 

If you were to do another race, what changes would you make? Why? 

Final reflection: How does this process help you better understand the challenges NASA engineers face when communicating with Opportunity and Spirit? 

Vocabulary


protocol

n.

the official way of doing something

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Common Core Standards


  • 3-5-ETS1-1 — Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
  • 3-5-ETS1-2 — Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
  • 3-5-ETS1-3 — Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.
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Lesson 12

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Lesson 14

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