NASA Has Launched Three Free Out-of-School STEM Units for Kids Ages 3-8. Here's What They Can Do.
In a recent announcement, NASA has launched three free out-of-school time units designed to help kids aged 6-12 develop essential skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). These new resources are part of the PLANETS (Planetary Learning that Advances the Nexus of Engineering, Technology, and Science) project, a collaboration between Northern Arizona University and NASA.
The first unit is called Space Hazards. In this hands-on activity, kids will learn about how to protect themselves against various hazards on Earth and in space using an interactive card game. This unit introduces engineering concepts by challenging students to design their own space glove that can keep astronauts safe while still allowing them to work effectively.
Another unit focused on water scarcity is called Water in Extreme Environments. In this curriculum, students learn about the distribution of freshwater across the solar system and are tasked with designing a filtration system capable of purifying water for reuse. There are two pathways available here: science and engineering, making it suitable for kids who excel in both subjects.
Lastly, there's the Remote Sensing unit that puts participants into NASA engineers' shoes as they work on building remote sensing devices to analyze planetary surfaces such as Mars. After designing these tools, students use real data from a previous Mars mission to decide where to land future rovers on the Red Planet.
The three PLANETS units offer learning experiences for students aged 6-12 that cater to different abilities and languages while incorporating real NASA content for accuracy. They provide comprehensive resources such as educator guides, videos, and support materials designed specifically with educators in mind – useful advice tailored towards engaging learners effectively.
These new out-of-school STEM initiatives are available without charge on the PLANETS website (planets-stem.org). Parents and teachers can visit this site to give their children the tools they need to engage more deeply with science, technology, engineering, and math concepts.
In a recent announcement, NASA has launched three free out-of-school time units designed to help kids aged 6-12 develop essential skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). These new resources are part of the PLANETS (Planetary Learning that Advances the Nexus of Engineering, Technology, and Science) project, a collaboration between Northern Arizona University and NASA.
The first unit is called Space Hazards. In this hands-on activity, kids will learn about how to protect themselves against various hazards on Earth and in space using an interactive card game. This unit introduces engineering concepts by challenging students to design their own space glove that can keep astronauts safe while still allowing them to work effectively.
Another unit focused on water scarcity is called Water in Extreme Environments. In this curriculum, students learn about the distribution of freshwater across the solar system and are tasked with designing a filtration system capable of purifying water for reuse. There are two pathways available here: science and engineering, making it suitable for kids who excel in both subjects.
Lastly, there's the Remote Sensing unit that puts participants into NASA engineers' shoes as they work on building remote sensing devices to analyze planetary surfaces such as Mars. After designing these tools, students use real data from a previous Mars mission to decide where to land future rovers on the Red Planet.
The three PLANETS units offer learning experiences for students aged 6-12 that cater to different abilities and languages while incorporating real NASA content for accuracy. They provide comprehensive resources such as educator guides, videos, and support materials designed specifically with educators in mind – useful advice tailored towards engaging learners effectively.
These new out-of-school STEM initiatives are available without charge on the PLANETS website (planets-stem.org). Parents and teachers can visit this site to give their children the tools they need to engage more deeply with science, technology, engineering, and math concepts.