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Don\u2019t let nebulous ideas slow you down as you count down to this October’s World Space Week. Rather, shoot for the moon with these astronomical activities for celebrating World Space Week with your class or family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t let nebulous ideas slow you down as you count down to this October’s World Space Week. Rather, shoot for the moon with these astronomical activities for celebrating World Space Week with your class or family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take this week to celebrate global cooperation in the near reaches of space by learning about the International Space Station (ISS). Check out the view from the space station<\/a>. Get kids outside on a clear evening to look for the space station passing overhead. Visit NASA’s Spot The Station<\/a> site to find when to view the ISS from your location. Screen a few of NASA\u2019s Human Research Program videos<\/a> with your students or read about Sleeping on the Space Station<\/a> with this worksheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Red Planet continues to capture headlines and our imaginations. Take advantage of student interest in our planetary neighbor by exploring what we know about Mars. Have students participate in the Planet Four: Terrains<\/a> citizen science project by examining and mapping images of Mars. Control a virtual rover with Experience Curiosity<\/a>. Find more Mars-related games and activities at NASA’s Mars Exploration<\/a> site and try our reading passages, Earth vs. Mars<\/a> and One-Way Ticket to Mars<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Artemis missions<\/a> will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon. The plan is to establish a sustainable base camp with an eventual plan and the giant next milestone: sending astronauts to Mars from the moonbase. While building the resources and technology for this goal, there are also plans of exploring all of the moon’s surface, sending astronauts and space robotic explorers. According to the official Artemis mission page<\/a>, at the top of this list is the moon’s southern pole. Kick off your unit with\u00a0this\u00a0Moon Surface Features lesson<\/a> and navigate the surface\u00a0with\u00a0Google Moon<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read classic or modern science fiction with your students. Go beyond what is scientifically accurate or misrepresented and discuss themes as well as what the story conveys about society, both real and fictional. Use Help Teaching\u2019s Science Fiction Literature worksheets<\/a> and Elements of Science Fiction lesson<\/a> as a starting point. Then, ask your students to put on their creative thinking helmets and write a piece of science fiction. Here are some writing prompts worksheets to get you started: Finally, decelerate by watching a sci-fi movie! Perhaps your high school students will enjoy the interplanetary adventure The Martian<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have access to a telescope, World Space Week is a great time to use it! Students may not have ever had the opportunity to actually observe planets, stars, or the Moon up-close through a telescope. If your school has a telescope, plan a viewing party with students and families. If you don’t have access to a telescope, some libraries offer telescope lending or viewing opportunities. Likewise, many observatories offer public viewing options and accommodate student field trips. To find a local observatory, check with nearby universities or try one of these publicly accessible telescopes<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re still in need of fun ways to celebrate World Space Week, sojourn\u00a0to the World Space Week<\/a> website and download one of the educator resource guides<\/a> or locate a nearby event<\/a> for more out-of-this-world activities!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking for additional space science education resources? Visit HelpTeaching.com and try our\u00a0astronomy\u00a0printables<\/a> and lessons<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMission Mars<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Moon to Mars, Mission Artemis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Escape with Science Fiction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Kindergarten and 1st Grade:<\/strong>
My Space Adventure<\/a>
If I Were an Alien<\/a>
2nd Grade<\/strong>
Alien Encounter<\/a>
Journey Into Space<\/a>
3rd Grade<\/strong>
Alien Welcome Committee<\/a>
My Trip Into Space<\/a>
4th and 5th Grade<\/strong>
The Colony<\/a>
Pluto Poem<\/a>
One Way Ticket to Mars<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nVisit an Observatory This World Space Week<\/h3>\n\n\n\n