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Activity (Hands-On)Grades 6 - 8

Robotic Arm Challenge

A picture showing an artist's rendering of the Phoenix Mars Lander sitting on the rust-colored Martian surface at twilight. The lander, supported by three metallic legs, has a distinctively long, thin robotic arm extended upward and to the right, ready for scooping or analysis. In the background, a hazy sky meets the horizon, with the faint disk of the sun or a moon visible just above the surface. The scene is dimly lit, casting deep shadows from the lander and its arm.Students create a model robotic arm similar to NASA's Mars Phoenix lander

Students design, build, and test a model robotic arm capable of moving objects from one location to another. Using everyday materials such as craft sticks, string, paper clips, and rubber bands, students explore how simple machines work together to perform complex tasks, like NASA engineers who design robotic arms for Mars rovers and the International Space Station.

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