Libraries, Archives, Museums: Early Literacy and Children's Services: NASA@ My Library STEAM Kits

STEM Kit lending to libraries and museums

As part of our work with NASA@ My Library, we have three Science, Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) kits available for lending to libraries wishing to use these kits in programming. They will circulate for 21 days to allow time for the kits to arrive at the library, have the program and return the kit back to us. We pay outgoing postage to mail out the kits and the borrower pays return shipping.

Kit 1

Sun-Earth-Moon Connection

This kit contains a facilitation guide and items to do the following activities:

Modeling Meaningful Eclipses (Yardstick Eclipse Demonstration)
- Demonstration Video from Night Sky Network (YouTube)
UV Kid!
[Card] Sorting Games: How Big? How Far? How Hot?
Jump to Jupiter Activity
- Demonstration video from STARnet (YouTube)

In addition it has these additional items:

Sunoculars
Moonbear’s Shadow book – Frank Asch. Read description from GoodReads.
Oh Say Can You Say What’s the Weather Today? book – Dr. Seuss. Read description from GoodReads.
Getting a Feel for Lunar Craters book –NASA.

See kit materials list for details about activity items.

Materials list for Sun-Earth-Moon Connection

Kit 2

Be a NASA Detective - Expanding Your Senses

This kit contains a facilitation guide and items to do the following activities:

Planet Party Activity
Pocket Solar System Activity
Loony Lunar Phases Activity
Art and the Cosmic Connection Activity
Investigating the Insides Activity
Taking Earth’s Temperature/Investigating the Insides
Magnetic Science Kit

In addition, this kit features the following books:

Secrets of Our Earth (Carron Brown) – A Shine-A-Light Book (comes with flashlight). Red description from GoodReads.
The Secret Galaxy (Fran Hodgkins). Read description from GoodReads.
Find the Constellations (H.A. Rey). Read description from GoodReads..

Materials list for Be a NASA Detective

Cloudy? Midnight Sun? No Problem!

Parts of Alaska are cloudy all year round. Some parts of Alaska stay too light in summer to observe the night sky. Here are some space themed activities that you and your patrons can participate in no matter the sky conditions.

MicroObservatory Robotic Telescope Network
Network of remote telescopes in dry, dark sky places available for student and lifelong learner use. Extensive activity guides and image archives.
Daily Sun Images (Spaceweather Live)
Daily images from space based observatories pulled together by a non-profit in Belgium.
Radio JOVE (Student Radio Astronomy)
Learn how you can build your own radio telescope to monitor radio emissions from the Sun and Jupiter.
Radio Meteor Zoo
Help researchers find meteor trails in radio data.
How to hear the shooting stars (space.com)
Article detailing how to use an FM radio to hear the radio traces of meteors hitting our atmosphere.
Planet Four - Terrains
Explore the south pole of Mars and flag interesting features for researchers.
Spacecraft AR
Use your android phone or tablet to get an up close look at NASA spacecraft.

NASA and related links and resources

Astronaut appearances (NASA)
Interested in having an astronaut speak to your audience in person or by Skype? See form and six page guidelines. Note that for physical visits, requesting organization pays travel costs.
Solar System Ambassadors (NASA)
The NASA Solar System Ambassadors program is a public engagement effort that works with motivated volunteers across the nation to communicate the science and excitement of NASA's space exploration missions and discoveries with the people in their communities.
Night Sky Network (NASA)
Resources for night sky viewing, including viewing planner and astronomy club director. As of 11/16/2018 no Alaska clubs were listed. So if you know of one, let us know!
STAR Library Network (STARnet)
The Space Science Institute’s National Center for Interactive Learning (NCIL) provides interactive STEM exhibits, programming, and training to public libraries nationwide through its Science‐Technology Activities and Resources Library Network (STAR Net)
NASA@ My Library project page
Big picture overview of NASA@ My Library project around the United States.

Funder credit

This project is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.