Event information
Event type: Workshop
Location: Investigate Centre (Green Zone, lower Ground Floor)
Suitable for: KS2 (ages 7-11) and KS3 (ages 11-14)
Capacity: 35 pupils
Duration: 1hr 45 min
Ticket prices: £3 per pupil
Booking required by phone
Pupils will design, create and code a Martian rover using LEGO® Education WeDo 2.0 robotics sets in this hands-on workshop.
Exploring and understanding Mars has become one of the key challenges in space exploration. From remote sensing to landing rovers, our Museum scientists are actively involved in learning more about the red planet. But how do we study a planet that is millions of miles away?
In this workshop, pupils work in small teams to design and build a LEGO Martian rover. They then code, test and evaluate their designs.before seeing how their rovers perform on a realistic Martian surface.
This workshop has been created in partnership with the LEGO Group and LEGO Education Partner, Raising Robots
Workshop rundown
- Pupils discover the importance of space exploration, how our Museum scientists are actively involved and why using models such as LEGO is important for engineers.
- Pupils follow a basic prototype to build a rover, which they will then learn to code using LEGO WeDo 2.0 robotic sets.
- Pupils decide on the aims for their rover and build, to a given specification, appropriate tools for their challenge.
- In an exciting finale, pupils see how their rovers perform on a large-scale realistic Martian surface.
- KS3 classes will also receive an additional challenge to consider the budget and weight of their rover and designs.
Further information
Curriculum links: Working scientifically, Earth and space, Forces, Deisgn, Evaluate, Technical knowledge, Computing
Event dates and times
The workshop runs at 10.30am and 12.30pm on the weekdays shown below. The duration is 1 hour 45 minutes.
Nov 2024
4, 5, 19, 20, 28, 29
Dec 2024
2, 3, 4, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18
Jan 2025
13, 14, 15, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29
Feb 2025
3, 4, 13, 14, 24, 25, 26
March 2025
6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 27, 28, 31
April 2025
1, 2
View live calendar
The above dates are not live - to view all school sessions please open the School Sessions Availabilty calendar.
How to book
All workshops must be prebooked by phone. The dates listed above are not live. To explore individual timeslots for days, please view the School Sessions Availability calendar.
You can book for dates up to April 2025, during term time. Bookings must be made at least three weeks in advance.
This workshop is for KS2 (ages 7-11) and KS3 (ages 11-14).
The maximum capacity per workshop is 35 pupils. Bookings must be for a minimum of 15 pupils.
To check dates and make a booking, please read our essential information page, then phone the bookings team.
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Useful resources
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SpaceThe search for life on Mars
To help us tell fact from science fiction, scientists and engineers involved in the ExoMars 2020 program discuss the latest on the search for life on Mars.
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NewsHayabusa2 lands two rovers on asteroid Ryugu
The rovers have captured the first ever images from the surface of an asteroid.
24 September 2018 -
NewsFrom the Museum to Mars: a meteorite returns home
A piece of Martian meteorite is being returned to the red planet by NASA.
30 June 2020 -
Science newsAncient meteorite gives a glimpse into the crust of Mars
A meteorite sample from the Museum collection is revealing more about how and when the crust of the Red Planet formed.
24 May 2018
