Creative Dad CompanyCreative Dad Company
EngineeringMathTechnology

Mars Pizza Delivery

Log in to save
Grades 3-560-75 minSource: Creative Dad Company

Kids design insulated packaging and plan efficient rover routes to deliver a pretend pizza across a miniature Martian landscape without it going cold or getting crushed. It's a fun mashup of thermodynamics, geometry, and problem-solving that turns a delivery challenge into a full engineering mission.

Budget levels

Materials list coming soon to members

Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change. As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick Start

Digital downloads only. $0 to buy. Printing is noted separately.

Materials list coming soon.

Student time: one class period, one day.

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one class period on a single day.

Scale back: Fit it into a shorter period, use fewer effects, or run a demo instead of a build.

Scale up: Add one extra effect, or spread the share-out across another day.

Ambiance video

Ambiance video coming soon from Creative Dad Studio

Full Experience

Up to $25 per class (class of about 30, 6 groups).

Materials list coming soon.

Student time: one day.

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one school day.

Scale back: Fit the build into one period with fewer effects.

Scale up: Spread the work across days, or add more effects.

Total Transformation

The bigger kit, priced per class (class of about 30, 6 groups).

Materials list coming soon.

Student time: one day (one session, one-day event).

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one session, a one-day event.

Scale back: Shorten the event, or run a demo for a smaller audience.

Scale up: Spread the build and the event across days, or invite a bigger audience.

Choose your version

Every level teaches the same core idea — pick the one that fits your time, budget, and energy today.

Student time: 45 min, one class periodTeacher prep / build-ahead: 10 min$0 to buy. Printing noted separately.One table or a clear section of floorBeginner-friendly

Setup

Place common or recycled supplies for Mars Pizza Delivery on one work surface and choose a safe area for the test. Read the four activity directions aloud; drawings, paper models, and household substitutes may replace specialized materials, and no digital tool is required.

Activity

  1. Have kids touch a warm object and predict which materials, such as foil, cotton, or felt, will keep it warmest the longest before building anything.
  2. Build a small insulated container for the pizza using layered materials and construct a simple rover or sled to carry it across a taped-off Martian terrain map.
  3. Test the delivery by timing the route and checking the pizza's temperature at the finish line, then redesign the packaging or route when the rover tips over on rocky terrain or the pizza arrives cold.
  4. Hold a mission control presentation where each team reports their delivery time, temperature results, and the route changes that saved their pizza.

Ambiance video

Ambiance video coming soon from Creative Dad Studio

Done when: The group produces the Mars Pizza Delivery solution, completes the described test, makes the revision called for by the evidence, and supports its final explanation with an observed or measured result.

Materials

cardboard box, aluminum foil, cotton balls or felt scraps, tape, string, small toy car to act as rover, ruler, thermometer (optional), red sand or flour for terrain

Shown for the Quick Start version — switch tabs above to see what changes.

Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change.

As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases.

Steps

  1. Have kids touch a warm object and predict which materials, such as foil, cotton, or felt, will keep it warmest the longest before building anything.
  2. Build a small insulated container for the pizza using layered materials and construct a simple rover or sled to carry it across a taped-off Martian terrain map.
  3. Test the delivery by timing the route and checking the pizza's temperature at the finish line, then redesign the packaging or route when the rover tips over on rocky terrain or the pizza arrives cold.
  4. Hold a mission control presentation where each team reports their delivery time, temperature results, and the route changes that saved their pizza.

Standards mapped

  • NGSS · 3-5-ETS1-3

    Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.