Whitman Design Students on a Bus Trip to Mars

By Whitman MS Staff
Spotlight
October 22, 2021

On Tuesday, October 19th and Wednesday, October 20th, Ms. Watson’s Design and Simulation students participated in the Explorer Lab program. The Explorer Lab program is designed to combine classroom learning with a mobile lab experience to create a comprehensive unit on engineering and aerospace technology.

The program consists of two activities, the Rolling Rovers lab, and the Explorer Lab experience. For the Rolling Rovers lab, students used their knowledge of forces to design and iterate a Lego rover using the engineering design process. During the Explorer Lab, students were taken to Mars and had to use their knowledge of the engineering design process to modify and test different rover designs to overcome challenges. Students practiced engineering through iteration and testing as well as problem solving skills.

Students using evidence, planning, and collaborating on their mission.

Students using evidence, planning, and collaborating on their mission.

Student participating in the engineering and design process.

Student participating in the engineering and design process.

Class experiences relevant and in-context STEM mission through technology.

Class experiences relevant and in-context STEM mission through technology.