Download a guide that includes hands-on, space-themed learning activities for students in grades 3-8. 

The activities are engaging, use low-cost supplies, and align with national education standards for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

• ACTIVITY 1. HUMANS IN SPACE: MEASURING DISTANCES TO SPACE DESTINATIONS

  Extension Activities:
  Earth, Moon and Mars Balloons Activity (NASA)

  Additional Resources:
  ISS360: The ISS National Lab blog
  International Space Station website (NASA)
  NASA Space Place (NASA)
  Solar System Exploration website (NASA)
  International Space Station information

• ACTIVITY 2. MISSION PATCH DESIGN: CREW UNITY IN SPACE

  Additional Resources:
  ISS360: The ISS National Lab blog
  International Space Station website (NASA)
  NASA History Office (NASA)
  The Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP)
  Our World:  Mission Patches (video) (NASA)
  Make Your Own Astronaut Mission Patch – ISS Science (video)

• ACTIVITY 3. READY TO LAUNCH: ENGINEERING ROCKETS

  Extension Activities:
  NASA Rockets Educator Guide (NASA)
  Straw Rockets for Smaller Ondoor Spaces (NASA)

  Additional Resources:
  Making a Stomp Rocket (NASA)
  DIY Space: Stomp Rockets episode (video) (NASA)
  Welcome to the Beginner’s Guide to Rockets (NASA)
  Launch a rocket from a spinning planet (NASA)
  How Do Rockets Stack Up? (NASA)
  Dr. Marc answers questions about technology and rockets (NASA)
  Talk Like a Rocket Engineer (vocabulary) (NASA)
  A Pictorial History of Rockets (NASA)

• ACTIVITY 4. Spacewalk Simulation

  Extension Activities:
  Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut  (NASA)

  Additional Resources:
  Activities for Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut (NASA)
  ISS Benefits for Humanity: Train Like an Astronaut (video)
  Exercise in space with Samantha Cristoforetti (video)

• ACTIVITY 5.  Story Time From Space:  Max Goes to the Space Station Extension Activities

  Additional Story Time From Space readings

  Additional Resources:
  Science Time From Space
  Free-Fall Part 1 (video)
  Free-Fall Part 2 (video)
  Why so Fast? (video)
  Astronaut Height (video w/activity)

• ACTIVITY 6. Design A Space Station

  Extension Activities:
  Build the Station Simulation (educator guide w/paper model) (NASA)
  Teacher Resources for Living in Space: Design a Space Station 

  Additional Resources:
  Google Street View of the ISS
  Behind the Scenes: Mapping the International Space Station with Google Street View (video)
  ISS Activity Book Elementary  (NASA)