Online Resources
Do you want to figure out how to incorporate space exploration into your classroom? Well, the goal of this page is to provide you with an extensive list of resources all in one place. Each resource can be used in a variety of classroom settings, grade levels and has a space-specific focus.
Click on the buttons or hyperlinked orange words below to take you directly to the websites.
Click on the buttons or hyperlinked orange words below to take you directly to the websites.
National Aeronautics & SPace Administration (NASA)
NASA STEM Engagement
A more user-friendly searchable hub of NASA Resources
Explore by audience (student or educator), grade level, type of activity and subject area
Explore by audience (student or educator), grade level, type of activity and subject area
NASA Space Place
Offers a variety of games, crafts, activities, and educator resources on topics such as Earth, Sun, Solar System, Universe, and Science and Technology.
Offers a variety of games, crafts, activities, and educator resources on topics such as Earth, Sun, Solar System, Universe, and Science and Technology.
Space STEM Forum
NASA in person
NASA has 10 regional centers across the US, each with a different focus. All of them also have an education outreach program.
> The Midwest Regional Center is NASA Glenn Research Center, located in Cleveland, Ohio. They have FREE monthly tours of different facilities on-site. @NASAglenn
> Great Lakes Science Center is the official visitor center of NASA Glenn.
REQUEST A SPEAKER
NASA provides opportunities for teachers to request either SKYPE calls or live interactions with NASA employees (including astronauts). There are costs associated with live appearances.
> The Midwest Regional Center is NASA Glenn Research Center, located in Cleveland, Ohio. They have FREE monthly tours of different facilities on-site. @NASAglenn
> Great Lakes Science Center is the official visitor center of NASA Glenn.
REQUEST A SPEAKER
NASA provides opportunities for teachers to request either SKYPE calls or live interactions with NASA employees (including astronauts). There are costs associated with live appearances.
NASA Spinoff
- An annual publication of the commercial technologies that were developed through NASA research.
- PDF copies are available from 1976 to present.
- PDF copies are available from 1976 to present.
International Space Station (ISS)
International Space Station (ISS) @Space_Station
- Information about the ISS; current research, crews, launches and landings, etc
- ISS tracker - Real-time location of the ISS
- Spot the Station - Allows you to see when you can spot the ISS
- ISS Activity Book - FREE printable activities for your classroom
- ISS Above - Know where the Space Station is, when you can see it, how fast it's moving and see Earth from 'up there' in space.
- Google Arts & Culture Collection - celebrate the 20th Anniversary of continuous human presence on the ISS
Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS)
-Space Station Explorers - Space Station Explorers is managed by CASIS. They use their special access to the International Space Station (ISS) to create great educational experiences in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). They produce unique articles, lesson plans, and other resources about the scientists and astronauts who design and perform experiments in the U.S. National Lab aboard the ISS. They collaborate with many partner organizations to offer innovative programs that engage learners in authentic science practice while evoking the thrill of living in space!
Programs include:
Programs include:
- Student Spaceflight Experiments Program - U.S. national Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education initiative that gives typically 300+ students across a participating community the ability to design and propose real experiments to the International Space Station.
- Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) - ARISS lets students worldwide experience the excitement of talking directly with crew members of the International Space Station.
- Windows on Earth
- Zero Robotics
- Story Time from Space - Astronauts read books related to science aboard the International Space Station (ISS). They also perform science experiments!
- Tomatosphere - K-12 program focused on building the knowledge of the scientific method and inquiry skills. Classrooms are sent 2 packets of seeds, a "control" group of tomato seeds that have remained on earth and a "variable" group of tomato seeds that have gone to space and been aboard the ISS!!
- Space Station Ambassadors
Cubes in Space
- A unique experience for 11 - 18 year old students to design an experiment that fits in a 4"x 4" cube to be launched on either a sounding rocket for suborbital space flight and/or high-altitude balloon.
Exploring Our Solar System
Journey to Mars
Journey to Mars
**FREE posters that will look awesome in your classroom!
- Mars Survival Kits - Activities for your classroom
- Mars in a Minute - short animated videos answering questions about Mars
- Space Launch System @NASA_SLS - Rockets to transport us farther than we've been before. Currently in construction.
- Orion Capsule @NASA_Orion - Capsule headed for Mars. Currently in testing.
- Curiosity Rover @Mars Curiosity
- Spirit and Opportunity Rovers @MarsRovers
**FREE posters that will look awesome in your classroom!
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) @NASAWebb
- Named after the First NASA director, renamed in 2002
- Scheduled for launch in 2021
- More advanced than Hubble and will go farther than we are able to go
- "Into the Unknown" Northrop Grumman Documentary
Perseverance
@NASAPersevere #CountdowntoMars
In 2019, there was a nationwide contest to name the newest Mars Rover. Voting was completed in January 2020 to narrow it down to 9 potential names. The official name, Perseverance, was announced in March. It will be launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida this summer. Curiosity, a previous Martian Rover, was actually named by a 6th Grader!
Landing on the Martian surface is February 18, 2021!
In 2019, there was a nationwide contest to name the newest Mars Rover. Voting was completed in January 2020 to narrow it down to 9 potential names. The official name, Perseverance, was announced in March. It will be launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida this summer. Curiosity, a previous Martian Rover, was actually named by a 6th Grader!
Landing on the Martian surface is February 18, 2021!
Teaching STEAM
Boeing Educator Resources
Boeing's educational focuses are Flight Principles, Space Exploration, STEM Teaching, Designing and Engineering.
- Career Runway - Students can make real world connections and explore careers at Boeing.
- Lesson plans
- Design challenges
- Videos and Interactive Activities* *can change by location
- Career Runway - Students can make real world connections and explore careers at Boeing.
- Lesson plans
- Design challenges
- Videos and Interactive Activities* *can change by location
Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut @trainastronaut
- Enroll your class for FREE (Spanish and English) lessons focused on science, physical education, health and nutrition.
- As you log your classes' activities, you earn ebadges and points, providing energy for AstroCharlie walk around the Earth and walk to the Moon.
- You can connect with other schools around the world!
- As you log your classes' activities, you earn ebadges and points, providing energy for AstroCharlie walk around the Earth and walk to the Moon.
- You can connect with other schools around the world!
Buzz Aldrin's Share Space Foundation
- Supported by former astronaut Buzz Aldrin, 2nd man to land on the Moon
- Promotes STEAM Education and provides resources
- Fill out an application to potentially receive a FREE Destination Mars Map or Giant Moon Map with curriculum!
- Promotes STEAM Education and provides resources
- Fill out an application to potentially receive a FREE Destination Mars Map or Giant Moon Map with curriculum!
Space Consortiums
- Every state has an alliance to promote space exploration and STEM education.
- Check your state's website for information about professional development and other opportunities.
- Check your state's website for information about professional development and other opportunities.
Visualizations/3D Printing/VR/AR
Astronomy Education at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln
- Awesome animations and simulations for students to see the Earth, Sun and Moon in action
- Download apps to explore the simulations
- Download apps to explore the simulations
Apollo in Real Time
Choose a historical mission to follow and hear audio, see photographs and footage.
- Apollo 11 (1st moon landing)
- Apollo 13 (successful failure)
- Apollo 17 (last moon landing)
- Apollo 11 (1st moon landing)
- Apollo 13 (successful failure)
- Apollo 17 (last moon landing)
Moon
- Explore features, landing sites and pop culture about the moon
Mars Exploration
Solar System Exploration
- Amazing Visualizations
- Planetary facts, Exploration, Comparing Planets, Image & Video Galleries
- Exploring Dwarf Planets, Moons, and Small Bodies (Asteroids, Comets, etc)
- Planetary facts, Exploration, Comparing Planets, Image & Video Galleries
- Exploring Dwarf Planets, Moons, and Small Bodies (Asteroids, Comets, etc)
3D Resources
- 3D print models related to Lunar and Martian exploration
- Explored 3D models, Images & Textures, and Visualizations
- Explored 3D models, Images & Textures, and Visualizations