Third Graders Engineer Gravity Cars and Mars Rovers

Third-grade students explored the concepts of forces, motion and energy through an exciting hands-on engineering challenge. Using K’NEX building pieces, they designed and built gravity-powered cars, tested their initial models, make improvements and analyzed their results. This project strengthened their measuring, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. You can click on this link to see students, building, testing and measuring their results. 

After mastering the principles of wheels and axles, students took on an even greater challenge—designing and building Mars Rovers powered by K’NEX motors. To test the durability and functionality of their designs, they experimented on various terrains, including tile, concrete, carpet, grass, mulch, small rocks, large rocks and bricks.

Through this engaging project, students gained a deeper understanding of engineering, design iteration and real-world problem-solving—just like NASA engineers working on space exploration! Students documented their learning on Seesaw. You can click on this link to see students building and testing their rovers.