NASA's PLANETS Project Launches Free Out-of-School Time Resources for Kids
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched a new initiative called PLANETS, which provides three free out-of-school time units that allow students in grades 3-5 and 6-8 to engage in real planetary science and engineering. The program is designed to benefit all learners, regardless of their background or abilities.
The PLANETS project consists of three units: Space Hazards, Water in Extreme Environments, and Remote Sensing. Each unit has a complementary engineering and science pathway that can be taught on its own or together. Subject matter experts from NASA's USGS Astrogeology Science Center worked with STEM education experts to develop the activities, ensuring they are educational, engaging, and accurate.
The Space Hazards unit is designed for grades 3-5 and introduces students to the different hazards people face on Earth and in space. The engineering pathway challenges students to design a space glove that will keep astronauts safe while still allowing them to do their work.
The Water in Extreme Environments unit is designed for grades 6-8 and uses planet "water cards" to teach students about the scarcity of fresh water in extreme environments, both on Earth and in space. Students then design a filtration system to purify water for reuse.
The Remote Sensing unit is also designed for grades 6-8 and puts students into the shoes of NASA spacecraft engineers, designing remote sensing devices to learn about the surface of planets like Mars. The science pathway uses real NASA remote sensing data from Mars landing site candidates to choose the best place to land a rover on Mars.
The PLANETS project includes comprehensive educator guides, videos, and resources, as well as practical advice for out-of-school time educators to effectively teach all students. The program has been tested extensively in out-of-school time programs across the country and revised based on feedback to ensure the needs of all learners are met.
"I've used PLANETS in an out-of-school setting, and it's one of the most thoughtfully designed STEM resources I've seen," said Kara Branch, CEO and Founder of Black Girls Do Engineer. "The hands-on activities are engaging, accessible, and grounded in real-world challenges that spark curiosity in every learner."
All PLANETS materials are available for free on the website at planets-stem.org. The program is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AC53 and is part of NASA's Science Activation Portfolio.
By providing these free resources, NASA aims to empower every learner to see themselves as scientists and engineers and promote deeper understanding of our world and beyond.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched a new initiative called PLANETS, which provides three free out-of-school time units that allow students in grades 3-5 and 6-8 to engage in real planetary science and engineering. The program is designed to benefit all learners, regardless of their background or abilities.
The PLANETS project consists of three units: Space Hazards, Water in Extreme Environments, and Remote Sensing. Each unit has a complementary engineering and science pathway that can be taught on its own or together. Subject matter experts from NASA's USGS Astrogeology Science Center worked with STEM education experts to develop the activities, ensuring they are educational, engaging, and accurate.
The Space Hazards unit is designed for grades 3-5 and introduces students to the different hazards people face on Earth and in space. The engineering pathway challenges students to design a space glove that will keep astronauts safe while still allowing them to do their work.
The Water in Extreme Environments unit is designed for grades 6-8 and uses planet "water cards" to teach students about the scarcity of fresh water in extreme environments, both on Earth and in space. Students then design a filtration system to purify water for reuse.
The Remote Sensing unit is also designed for grades 6-8 and puts students into the shoes of NASA spacecraft engineers, designing remote sensing devices to learn about the surface of planets like Mars. The science pathway uses real NASA remote sensing data from Mars landing site candidates to choose the best place to land a rover on Mars.
The PLANETS project includes comprehensive educator guides, videos, and resources, as well as practical advice for out-of-school time educators to effectively teach all students. The program has been tested extensively in out-of-school time programs across the country and revised based on feedback to ensure the needs of all learners are met.
"I've used PLANETS in an out-of-school setting, and it's one of the most thoughtfully designed STEM resources I've seen," said Kara Branch, CEO and Founder of Black Girls Do Engineer. "The hands-on activities are engaging, accessible, and grounded in real-world challenges that spark curiosity in every learner."
All PLANETS materials are available for free on the website at planets-stem.org. The program is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AC53 and is part of NASA's Science Activation Portfolio.
By providing these free resources, NASA aims to empower every learner to see themselves as scientists and engineers and promote deeper understanding of our world and beyond.
this is so cool! I think what's really awesome about the PLANETS project is that it's all about making STEM learning accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or abilities 
. It's not just about teaching kids facts and figures, but also giving them real-world challenges to solve and problems to overcome 
. I mean, who doesn't love a good space glove design challenge? 
But seriously, this project is a great reminder that learning should be fun and engaging, and that we should never underestimate the power of hands-on experience to spark curiosity and creativity 
.
! I think it's awesome that NASA is making learning about space and science super accessible for kids. The fact that they're offering free resources online means that anyone with a laptop can access these units, regardless of their school or location. This is going to be a game changer for kids who might not have the same opportunities as others when it comes to STEM education.
But seriously, this could be a great resource for teachers looking for ways to engage their students in STEM education. Fingers crossed it doesn't get lost in the noise and actually gets used by people who need it 
- Eleanor Roosevelt. I think it's awesome that NASA is making STEM education accessible for all kids, regardless of their background or abilities. This initiative will definitely inspire more young minds to explore space and science. It's a great example of how we can empower the next generation to make a positive impact on our world. The fact that it's free and available online makes it even more exciting! 
like why do we need more stuff for kids? can't they just play outside or something? but seriously, the fact that nasa is giving away free resources on planetary science is kinda cool i guess. idk if it's gonna make a huge difference in their lives, but hey, every little bit counts, right? 
maybe we should use that to fix our schools instead? but i guess that's just not the way it works. still, kudos to nasa for trying to get kids interested in STEM and all that jazz
the fact that they've got experts from NASA and STEM education people working together is just genius 
. It's awesome that they're making STEM learning accessible to all learners, regardless of their background or abilities 
. I'm definitely going to check out these resources with my niece who loves space 
.
let's give NASA some serious props for making STEM education accessible and fun for everyone 
! I'm thinking it's pretty lit that they're making these resources available to anyone who wants to learn, regardless of their background or skill level 
.
! And Remote Sensing... wow, that one's got NASA spacecraft engineers helping kids design their own remote sensing devices to explore the surface of other planets 
.
. Plus, it's been tested in real out-of-school programs across the country, so we know it works! So, if you're a teacher looking for some cool resources or just someone who loves learning about space, you should totally check this out 
.
like i'm really glad they made a unit on water in extreme environments, cuz who doesn't love a good water filtration system 
and it's free btw, which is amazing 
the fact that they're providing free resources that are both fun and engaging is just amazing. i can imagine these units being implemented in out-of-school time programs and actually making a difference in kids' lives