Primary (Grades 3-5) and middle school (Grades 6-8) students interested in science and engineering will participate in the design and construction of a model of a Mars Rover to carry out a specific science mission on the surface of Mars. The model will be mostly a mock-up, constructed at a minimal cost (estimated cost of less than $10-$25) of mostly found objects and simple art supplies. If desired, teachers may supply students with a low cost ($10) solar powered car kit to serve as the chassis, or a low cost ($25) RC kit. RC, Solar powered, and free-form (unpowered) models will participate separately. The students will build the models as part of a 6-week Fall semester classroom-learning or homework project on Mars. The students will be given design criteria for a rover, and be required to do basic research on Mars that will determine the operational objectives and structural features of their rover. This module may be used as part of a class studying general science, earth science, solar system astronomy or robotics or as a multi-disciplinary unit for a gifted and talented program. Entries will be limited to the first 40 elementary schools and first 40 middle schools to enter. Schools are encouraged to have entire grades participate. Participation in the finals on January 26 will be limited to the best 3 teams of 4 students from each classroom. Maximum allowed participation will be 120 models in each half of the competition.

Teacher Workshop Webcast:

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To join the workshop visit: http://vcomm.uh.edu/teacher_workshop/
Meeting Name: Teacher Workshop
When: 09/17/2011 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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If you have never attended an Adobe Connect meeting before:
Test your connection: http://vcomm.uh.edu/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/go/connectpro_overview

Recordings of the 2010 Teacher Training Workshop and the 2011 Mars Rover Celebration are available. You can watch them here:

Mars Rover 2-H.264 for Apple TV http://vimeo.com/19771470 Involves TLC2.

Recordings of the 2011 Teacher Training Workshop are available. You can watch them here:
Morning, Part I
Morning, Part II
Afternoon

This year, we will need as many as 800 volunteers to cope with the expected horde of young plantary scientists and spacecraft design engineers. Click on Volunteer Registration to register. Do it NOW!

2011.10.23 : Mars Rover 2012 is nearly full.