Remote Sensing Beta Test – Engineering Activity 4: Create a Remote Sensing Device

Remote Sensing - Engineering A4 Front

Activity Timing

5 min. Introduction
10 min. Imagine and Plan
30 min. Create and Test
10 min. Reflect

55 min. Total

Prep Snapshot

Prep Time: 60 min 

If you have not yet done so, create model landscapes and (optional) Space Screens. Set up Materials Table. 

A4 Educator Guide

Mineral Paper

A4 Engineering Notebook

Data Collection Grids

This snapshot intended for quick reminders and is not a replacement of the guide. Be sure to use the guide for detailed preparation instructions and implementation scripts.

Glossary

21st Century Skills Connection

Collaboration, Critical Thinking

Habits of Mind

  • Consider problems in context 
  • Weigh the implications of solutions. 

Activity Overview

Youth work in groups to plan, create, and test remote sensing technologies that use the different technologies from the previous activities to gather data from a distance. 

Guiding Question

How can we create remote sensing technologies to gather different types of data from a distance? 

Youth Will Do

  • Design a technology that can help answer a scientific question. 
  • Use an engineering design process to guide themselves to a successful solution. 

Youth Will Know

  • Engineers use what they learn while investigating to inform their design decisions. 
  • Engineers often collaborate with scientists. 

Videos Related to this Activity

Family Connections Story Prompt

  • Can you tell me a story about an animal that was able to sense something you could not?
  • Can you tell me a story about building something that was inspired by nature?

Additional Resources

Connecting Across Activities

  • In the previous Activities, youth explored different methods of remote sensing.
  • In this Activity, youth combine those methods and use their engineering design process to design and test remote sensing devices.
  • In Engineering Activity 5, they use what they learned to improve their devices.