Planetary Learning that Advances the Nexus of Engineering, Technology, and Science

Planetary Learning that Advances the Nexus of Engineering, Technology, and Science

PLANETS develops programs for educators and youth in grades 3-8 that provide STEM learning with an emphasis on NASA planetary science and engineering.

FREE  *  NASA Funded  *  Science Units  *  Engineering Units

Grades 3–5

two astronauts working on the outside of their spacecraft

Space Hazards

Develop a plan to mitigate hazards on a NASA mission and engineer space gloves to protect astronauts from cold, impact, and dust!

Grades 6–8

Water in Extreme Environments showing Saturn beyond a landscape that suggests a water source

Water in Extreme Environments

Discover where water is in our solar system and engineer a process to reuse it in an extreme environment!

Grades 6–8

Photo of a rover on the extreme landscape of a planetary body

Remote Sensing

Design technologies to learn about the surface of a mystery moon and use NASA Mars data to choose a landing site for a rover!

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STEM learning, for all students.

Orange circular icon with a white outline of a flask and a wrench.

Science & Engineering

NASA missions are a perfect way to bring together science and engineering. In PLANETS units, learners engineer technologies like optical filters and use them to answer scientific questions like “Where was water on Mars?”

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Space is for Everyone

Space has many interesting aspects that fuel learning and innovation. Activities are designed to interest and engage all learners and show that they can be scientists and engineers.

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STEM Learning

By engaging in real-world, open-ended challenges, learners develop STEM Habits of Mind like considering problems in context and weighing the implications of solutions.

Get Ready to Teach PLANETS

Interested in teaching PLANETS? Interested in training staff or other educators how to use and access the Educator Guides and Resources?

Take a little time to explore the Getting Ready to Teach Pages Here.

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“What I love about this curriculum is how it builds on each lesson. You introduce a concept and then expand on it in the next lesson, adding more depth. By the end, you’ve put all the pieces together for a comprehensive understanding. That’s what I appreciated.”

“I think units like this really open up careers, jobs that students can see themselves having in the future. When kids think about a scientist, they just imagine someone mixing chemicals. There are so many different careers that they can have in science.”

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Our partners in developing units & educator resources

Northern Arizona University logo
EiE logo
USGS logo
WestEd logo
Opportunities

Learn About Upcoming Opportunities

Make a difference and help our team develop high-quality STEM educator support materials!

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Our Research

OST Practitioner Guide

Promoting Inclusion and Engagement in STEM Learning: A Practical Guide for Out-of-School-Time Professionals provides practical strategies and guidance for OST professionals.