When Mars Rover Perseverance landed on Jezero Crater earlier this year, many homeschooling families found a renewed interest in learning about space. Whether you've created space exploration unit studies before, or your kids are getting curious about the cosmos for the first time, there are countless resources to pull from.
Here are 9 lessons about NASA to incorporate into your next outer space homeschool lesson plans.
What does NASA stand for?
Resources to supplement homeschool lesson plans
From virtual tours to videos, supplementing your homeschool unit study from a variety of sources is a great way to keep your kids engaged and provide them with different viewpoints and experiences.
6. Discover what it's like to actually live on the International Space Station
Think of them as the ultimate Day in the Life videos on social media; countless astronauts over the years have filmed videos from the ISS explaining what life is like living on the ISS.
Whether it's NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg showing how she washes her hair in space or former ISS Commander Chris Hadfield explaining how to brush your teeth on the ISS, your kids will discover what it's like to live in space for months at a time. A quick YouTube search for ISS videos will yield a plethora of intriguing results.
7. Do some stargazing in your own backyard
Track the International Space Station (ISS) and get updates when it's flying overhead — try to find it in the night sky. On clear nights it became a regular pandemic lockdown activity for our family.
8. Consider an immersive experience; perfect for roadschooling families
If your family is on the road or planning a road trip, consider family astronaut training or space camp in Alabama. Diana Hughes is a mom of two and Alumni Relations Officer at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville.
"Space Camp is a truly unique experience. At Space Camp you not only take part in an immersive STEM program, but also build skills in teamwork, leadership, and individual confidence," Hughes told Mom.com. "After taking part in Space Academy and Advanced Space Academy in my youth, meeting people from around the world, and taking part in activities like SCUBA for the first time, it helped me realize that the sky is the limit!"
9. Explore NASA right from the comfort of your own home.
The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory offers virtual tours of the facility. With 3D panoramic images, you and your kids will feel as though you're sitting right alongside mission control staff. You'll get to see the Spacecraft Assembly Facility and explore individual rooms dedicated to educating visitors about the moon, planets, comets, asteroids, and the stars.
