On Oct. 21, International Observe the Moon Night will bring together Moon admirers and curious people worldwide to learn about lunar science and exploration, take part in celestial observations, and honor cultural and personal connections to the Moon. Attend or host a virtual or in-person event, or explore different ways to observe the Moon from home.
Connect with fellow lunar enthusiasts using #ObserveTheMoon on social media. Looking for more? Try out one of these STEM activities. | | Virtual Learning Opportunities | | Audience: K-12 educators Communicating to and from space is a challenging endeavor. NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program enables this data exchange, whether it’s with astronauts aboard the International Space Station, rovers on Mars, or the Artemis missions to the Moon. Interested in having a NASA SCaN expert speak during your next educational event? The SCaN program is accepting requests for virtual classroom visits for grades K-12 during the 2023-2024 school year. Click here to request a virtual visit. | | Professional Development Opportunities | | Are you looking for new ways to engage students in STEM learning? Join us for grade-specific educator professional development sessions to learn about the new NASA SPARX (Sparking Participation and Real-world eXperiences in STEM) project. | |  | Sessions Dates: Monday, Oct. 23, and Tuesday, Oct. 24 For grades 3-5, NASA SPARX introduces students to the excitement of the Artemis mission to return astronauts to the Moon. Students will learn about the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft that will carry the first woman and first person of color to the Moon. Registration closes on Sunday, Oct. 22. Click here to register. | | | | Session Dates: Wednesday, Oct. 25, and Thursday, Oct. 26
For grades K-2, NASA SPARX introduces students to the International Space Station, explores how NASA communicates with astronauts in space, and shares how astronauts train for missions. Students will learn the value of teamwork and its importance to NASA missions. Registration closes on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Click here to register. | | | | Do you have questions about SPARX or these information sessions? Contact the SPARX team at SPARX@mail.nasa.gov. | | Event Date: Thursday, Oct. 26, at 4 p.m. EDT Have you ever imagined living on Mars, or wondered what it would be like to be part of a yearlong Mars simulation? Join NASA CONNECTS for a virtual event to learn about the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) mission. During this 45-minute event, CONNECTS members will learn more about this effort to simulate a Mars mission on Earth and discuss ways they could use CHAPEA resources in their classroom. Not a member of NASA’s online community of practice for educators? Click here to join CONNECTS to stay up to date on the latest NASA resources, collaborate with educators, and gain access to exclusive events. | | Do you ever wonder how astronauts in space communicate with people on Earth? In the latest STEMonstration episode, United Arab Emirates astronaut Sultan Alneyadi and NASA astronaut Megan McArthur demonstrate how communication works between the International Space Station and the ground. Learn about how we’ll keep in touch with astronauts and spacecraft on the journey forward to the Moon and on to Mars. For a corresponding classroom activity, check out the Deep Space Communications lesson in the First Woman Camp Experience guide.
For more STEMonstrations and activities, visit the STEM on Station website. | | Audience: Educators of grades K-8 NOAA and NASA’s Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) is a group of satellites that look at Earth at all times. These satellites circle our planet in a path called a polar orbit. They move over the North and South poles 14 times each day. To learn more about these satellites and what they do, go on a fun-filled learning adventure with JP the Super Seal in this activity book for young learners. | | Audience: Middle and high school students NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) research will transform our communities by bringing the movement of people and goods off the ground, on demand, and into the sky using air taxis and drones. Learn about this exciting new mode of air transportation through this monthly video series and corresponding hands-on activities. In the Air Taxi Design Challenge, students work in teams and use the engineering design process to design and build a model of a passenger-carrying air taxi. Stay tuned for exciting activities to learn more about AAM each month. | | Audience: Community college students Application Deadline: Dec. 11 NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) supports community college students seeking to transfer to a four-year institution or go directly to the labor force by engaging them in authentic learning experiences.
Applications for Mission 1: Discover are open now. Participants will take part in a five-week, self-paced online course introducing scholars to NASA missions and research. NCAS is open to community college students who are U.S. citizens.
| | Audience: Individuals, teams, and U.S. organizations (must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, 18 years of age or older) Registration Deadline: Feb. 8, 2024 NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate is seeking to expand the agency’s network of proposers and foster effective approaches and methods to successfully engage underrepresented and diverse space technology innovators, researchers, technologists, and entrepreneurs. The Space Tech Catalyst Prize will award $25,000 to individuals and teams engaging underrepresented audiences. Winners will be invited to an in-person event at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and will influence NASA practices for engaging the next generation of STEM students.
| | Opportunities With Our Partners | | Application Deadline: Sunday, Oct. 22 | | Abstract Submission Deadline: Thursday, Nov. 30 | | Application Deadline: Jan. 15, 2024 | |
Are you looking for NASA STEM materials to support your curriculum?
Find NASA science resources for your classroom. The NASA Science Activation (SciAct) program connects diverse learners of all ages with science in ways that activate minds and promote a deeper understanding of our world and beyond. https://science.nasa.gov/learn
Check out the ‘Explore NASA Science’ website! Science starts with questions, leading to discoveries. Visit science.nasa.gov. To view the site in Spanish, visit ciencia.nasa.gov. | | Visit NASA STEM Engagement on the Web: | | | | | | |
