Look, Link and Learn! NASA and The Space Place

NASA does so many amazing things, but they offer so much more than just Shuttle launches on TV. They have a wealth of resources on their http://www.nasa.gov/ site that can assist  home educators in science. Articles, videos, pictures...interactive features like this bio of Alan Shepard.

I appreciated this video entitled "This is Why We Test." What a great lesson in how scientists and engineers work and think...and need to test things out. So often I hear parents say..."We tried the experiment and it didn't do what it was supposed to do, so the whole thing was a failure. We hate science because it never works!" Lots of things on NASA's site show that even with directions, science experiments...science exploration...turns out differently...but it shouldn't mean failure, but rather helps explorers tweak how they do what they do to change the outcome. What a great lesson. Face it, even the simplest "plant the bean" experiment doesn't work the way you thought it would. That's ok! Asking the question, "Why?" is what we should be teaching the kids.


Don't miss the page for students where kids can find out how they can take part in NASA activities right from their own computer. How about sending your name to Mars?

Finally, don't miss The Space Place! From NASA's description:
NASAScience Kids and SpacePlace have combined to provide several new Web features with interactive graphic designs, in addition to having extensive rich science and technology content of the “old” SpacePlace -- with over 50 NASA science missions -- and content from NASAScience Kids. These sites offer the best of NASA material for elementary school students.

The site includes over 300 separate modules available in English and Spanish. Modules feature categories related to Space, Earth, Sun, Solar System, People and Technology, Parents and Teachers. Information mirrors the missions of the NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, as well as the agency’s commitment to education and public engagement. 


You can get your "Scientists and Astronauts-To-Be" over there and let them loose. There's some great stuff in there...

Remember, with all links...take a look first...and then let the kids link and learn!