A fun and engaging STEM challenge for kids that perfectly aligns with the curriculum. This hands-on lesson has students build a cardboard robot hand, test it, make adjustments, and compete. The final relay tests the robot hand to see which group's hand can pick up and carry a ping pong ball 10 feet and place it in a cup three times.

It challenges students to work together and problem solve while processing new information and building on pre-existing knowledge. This STEM challenge for middle school students promotes classroom relationship building and excitement for a Space Solar System Unit.

Hook - Space technology race

- Prize poster presentation

STEM - Build a Robot hand

-- the Final Robot Hand Relay

Closing - Recording and Reflection Sheet

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This experiment aligns with the following Saskatchewan Curriculum:

SS6.3 ( grade 6 science)

Evaluate past, current, and possible future contributions of space exploration programs including space probes and human spaceflight, which support living and working in the inner solar system. (DM, TPS)

EU9.4 (grade 9 science)

Analyze human capabilities for exploring and understanding the universe, including technologies and programs that support such exploration.

CS20-CP1 (computer science)

Apply various problem-solving strategies to solve programming problems throughout Computer Science 20.

SCI10-FM4 (Science 10)

Explore the relationship between force and motion for objects moving in one and two dimensions.

SCI10-FM1

Explore the development of motion-related technologies and their impacts on self and society.