Mars Colony: Engineering Expedition PBL iBlock for Students - iBlocks

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Mars Colony: Engineering Expedition

iBlocks Project Based Learning Objective:

It is the not-too-distant future and humankind is getting ready to take the next great step in space exploration: a colony on Mars! Intrepid individuals with skills in various STEAM areas are called to assist in planning and building the future colony, and the most daring of them will live there as the very first Martians! In this Mars Colony: Engineering Expedition PBL (Project-Based Learning) iBlock, students will research space exploration, Mars, and survival essentials before planning for a historic trip to populate a new planet. Students will need to plan and build solutions for the essentials — habitat, transportation, communication, and more. Together, we can bring humanity to the next era of its development.

Grade Band: 6-8
Primary Focus: Engineering, Social Studies
Secondary Focus: Communication, Mathematics
Additional Foci: Advanced Literacy, Transferable Skills, Social-Emotional Learning
Suggested Product Category: 3D Modeling (incl. 3D printers, laser & craft cutters), AR/VR, Pre-built Coding Robots, Buildable Robots & Kits, Electronics/Circuitry Kits
Teq Product Alignment: BirdBrain Hummingbird Robotics Kit, Breakout EDU, Cricut, Maker & Coder, Makerbot, Merge, Ozobot, UBTECH, Ultimaker, Wonder Workshop
Academic Alignment: Coding, Engineering, Robotics, Science, STEM
CTE Alignment: Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, Supply Chain & Transportation, Hospitality, Events, and Tourism, Digital Technology

An iBlock matches skills to standards (like Common Core or NGSS).

Here is a sample content standard for this iBlock:

Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions. (NGSS: MS-ETS1-1.)