PLANETS Units Have Landed – Free NASA-Funded Out-of-School Time Resources

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.
 
omg 🤩 just learned about these awesome NASA STEM units for kids!!! 🚀👦🏽 they have three cool units that'll help little ones develop essential skills in STEM - space hazards is so cool 🚫💡, water scarcity unit will make them think about our planet's resources 💧, and remote sensing unit lets them build real NASA tools 🤖! these units are free on the PLANETS website 🎉👍
 
omg I just saw that NASA is launching these super cool STEM units for kids 🚀👽! like 3 free ones already? that's so awesome 🤩 my little niece loves space and would totally love doing some of these activities with her friends at school. but you know what's even better? the fact that they're making it accessible for all ages (ages 3-8!) 💡 I mean, who says kids have to be a certain age or level to learn about science and math? everyone can learn something new! 🤓 and it's free too 🎉 which is just amazing. I'm definitely sharing this with my friends on social media... anyone else heard about this? 😁
 
omg i'm so down for these free STEM units!! my little sis is only 5 but she's already super curious about space & science 🚀💫 can't wait for her to try out the Space Hazards unit with her class 🤩 do you think they'll have any fun challenges in Water in Extreme Environments tho? like, what if the water on Mars gets really dirty 😷 also, remote sensing sounds super cool 📸! does anyone know how long these units are gonna last? like, will we get new ones every year or what?
 
🤩 I'm so stoked that NASA is taking steps to get kids excited about STEM education! These free units are a game-changer for families and schools, especially in underfunded communities where access to quality ed resources can be limited.

I love how the Space Hazards unit encourages kids to think creatively about engineering problems - it's not just about memorizing facts, but actually designing solutions that make sense. And the Water in Extreme Environments unit is so relevant to our planet's pressing issues! It's awesome that these units cater to different learning styles and languages too.

But what I really want to see is more support for teachers and educators who are already working tirelessly to make STEM education accessible to all. We need resources like this not just for the kids, but for the people who inspire them in the first place. Let's keep pushing forward with innovative programs like PLANETS! 🚀
 
I think it's awesome that NASA is giving kids a chance to learn about STEM in a fun way! The fact that these units are free and available online means that even parents or teachers who aren't experts in the field can use them to help their kids develop some amazing skills 🤩. I mean, designing a space glove that can keep astronauts safe while still allowing them to work effectively? That's like something straight out of a sci-fi movie! 👽 And the fact that there are different pathways available for students who excel in both science and engineering is a great way to cater to different learning styles 📚. Overall, I think this is a huge win for kids' education and can only help inspire more young minds to pursue careers in STEM fields 💡.
 
OMG u guys NASA just dropped these 3 FREE out-of-school STEM units for kids aged 3-8 🤩! They're so cool I mean who wouldn't wanna learn about space hazards or building remote sensing devices 🚀🔧. What's even better is that they're not just some boring lectures, it's hands-on activities and games 😄. I think this is a huge win for kids learning STEM concepts, especially those who might be shy in class 🤗. The fact that they offer resources for different languages and abilities is amazing 👍. I wish my younger cousin was eligible for these units when he was younger 🤔. NASA's PLANETS project seems like an awesome initiative to get more young minds excited about science and tech 🔬💻.
 
omg how cool is this?! nasa is literally making learning fun for kids! 🤩 these out-of-school units are perfect for parents who wanna give their kiddos an edge in STEM without breaking the bank. i'm all about supporting initiatives that promote science literacy and critical thinking skills from a young age. it's awesome to see nasa collaborating with northern arizona university on this project too! 👏 kudos to the team behind these units, especially the one on water scarcity – so relevant for our planet's future 🌎💧
 
I'm like totally stoked that NASA is offering these free out-of-school STEM units 🚀🎉! I mean, who doesn't want to learn about space hazards and water scarcity while having fun at the same time? It's so cool that they've got curricula for kids aged 3-8 too - my little cousin would love this! 😊 The fact that it's all online and free is just the icing on the cake...I'm sure parents and teachers are gonna be super grateful to have these resources at their disposal. I wonder if they'll get any feedback from actual teachers who try them out, though? 🤔
 
I think these free out-of-school units are amazing for kids 🤩, but at the same time, I'm worried that it's just another way for NASA to promote STEM education without addressing the bigger picture - like how we're going to make sure our planet is sustainable in the long run? 🌎 I mean, water scarcity and space hazards are both important, but isn't there more we can do to prepare future generations for a world with real-world problems? 🤔 On the other hand, who am I to question NASA's motives? Maybe these units will inspire kids to become the next generation of scientists and engineers who can make a difference in our planet's future... or maybe they'll just learn how to design space gloves 🔩.
 
😊 I'm loving that NASA is making STEM education super accessible for kids! 🚀 These out-of-school units are literally a game-changer (pun intended) for parents and teachers looking to give their little ones a head start in these critical subjects. The fact that they're free is just the icing on the cake – no excuse for not providing kids with these resources, right? 🤔 I'm also loving that each unit caters to different learning styles and abilities, so every kid can participate regardless of their strengths or weaknesses. It's about making STEM fun and engaging, not about pushing them into something they're not interested in. 👍 The PLANETS project is definitely on the right track here! 🚀
 
Man I'm so hyped about these NASA units for kids 🚀👶! It's so cool that they're making learning STEM fun and accessible for all ages 3-8 🤩. I mean who wouldn't want to design their own space glove or build a remote sensing device to analyze planetary surfaces? 😂 The fact that there are different pathways for students who excel in both science and engineering is super awesome too, it's like they're giving kids the freedom to choose what they love 💖.

I wish I had this kind of stuff when I was in school 🤔. It would've made learning so much more enjoyable and interactive 😁. And the fact that these units are free and available online is just amazing, no parents or teachers have to worry about breaking the bank 💸. Can't wait to see what other cool projects NASA has up their sleeve 🔓!
 
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