Year 6 thoroughly enjoyed an exciting STEAM challenge today, diving into the world of space exploration with the guiding question:
“What sort of vehicle would be best on the Moon?”
To tackle this, pupils explored how science, technology, engineering and maths come together when designing machines for extreme environments. Their mission: design a lunar rover capable of travelling across the Moon’s dusty, rocky surface.
What the children considered:
Wheel Design
Pupils discussed how wheels behave on different surfaces and experimented with ideas such as:
- Wide wheels for stability on uneven ground
- Treaded or ridged wheels to prevent slipping on lunar dust
- Lightweight structures to reduce energy use
Materials
They explored which materials would be strong enough to survive harsh lunar conditions while remaining light enough to move easily. Many groups selected materials that were:
- Durable for rocky terrain
- Heat‑resistant to cope with extreme temperatures
- Lightweight to conserve energy in low gravity
Creative Engineering
Working in teams, Year 6 sketched designs, discussed features such as suspension, solar panels, and protective shells, and justified their engineering decisions. Their ideas showed fantastic imagination and thoughtful problem‑solving.
A Fantastic Achievement
It was wonderful to see the classroom buzzing with curiosity, collaboration and creativity. Pupils developed not only technical knowledge but also teamwork, resilience and critical thinking.
We are incredibly proud of their enthusiasm and the impressive rover concepts they produced! A HUGE thank you to Gary for organising the resources and leading the practical session with the children.
