Is it possible for humans to survive on Mars? Help mankind take a giant step in this information gathering process by constructing a rover that has a wide array of remote sensing capabilities and sending it to the red planet to collect data.

Students will construct a sturdy chair for a stuffed-animal bear. The chair must be able to support the bear from the front, sides and back. Ultimately, the chair must keep Mr. Bear in a sitting position without him falling out of the chair.

Students will investigate the properties of sturdy structures by constructing a LEGO wall. The wall must be about 6 bricks high and withstand the "Flick Test". The Flick Test involves flicking the top of the wall to see if the wall fails or tips over.

Students will investigate different shapes to determine which shape is the strongest. Students will construct a roof to be placed on a previously built house. The roof must reflect their shape choice for the strongest shape. To test their structure, they will push on the top of the roof to check its...

Students will determine the best structure for a sturdy car. Students do not have to attach motors, but the car must roll with wheels and skid plates. Each student pair will test their designs by the drop test. This involves dropping their car from a height of 4in.

Students will practice building sturdy structures by constructing a sturdy LEGO tower using LEGO beams. The tower must be able to support a stack of books.

Students will explore gears and gear ratios. Students will learn how to use gears properly, efficiently and effectively.

Students will build and program a LEGO car to travel across a table. In doing so, they will explore the WeDo programming language. They will learn how to program with motor speeds, wait statements and loops.

Students will build and program a LEGO car that uses gears to travel as slowly as possible. The students will compete in a “snail race” to see whose car is the slowest. The last to cross the finish line will be crowned the winner.

Students will build and program a LEGO car that uses gears to travel up a steep incline. Students will explore the use of gears to give their car more power as well as car design to increase the amount of friction between the wheels and the incline.