NASA 5-8 Education Programs

    Eileen Poling holds a toy with long green hair as she floats inside of an airplane

    An educator conducted an experiment on a microgravity flight using her students' stuffed animal. Image Credit: Zero-G


    Students and educators may explore and experience unique space and aeronautics content through NASA's education opportunities. Learn about ways to interact with NASA engineers and scientists in programs listed below.

    Click "Find out more" for further details and contact information. You can also view an alphabetical list of all student, educator and faculty programs.
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Program Descriptions

  • Aerospace Education Services Project

    [Educators Grades K-Higher Education]
    [Available: Nationally]
    AESP is a comprehensive project designed to reach out to the formal and informal education communities in all fifty states and the U.S. territories.

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  • Digital Learning Network

    [Educators and Students Grades K-Higher Education]
    [Available: Nationally]
    DLN offers videoconferencing or Webcasting at no charge, providing interactive educational experiences to students and educators from kindergarten to university levels across the Nation and around the world.

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  • Education Associates

    [Educators Grades K-Higher Education & Students Higher Education]
    [Available: Nationally]
    Education Associates is a flexible year-round project that permits NASA scientists, engineers and managers to "tap higher education," while giving university students and faculty the opportunity to "experience NASA."

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  • Education Outreach Project at Johnson Space Center

    [Educators & Students Grades K-Higher Education]
    [Available: TX]
    Volunteers participate in various outreach opportunities, including lecturing or performing hands-on activities in the classroom, career shadowing, tutoring, mentoring and judging science fairs. Students must live within a 50-mile radius of JSC.

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  • Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate Project

    [Educators K-12 and Students Higher Education]
    [Available: Nationally]
    The project awards Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate Program Fellowships to K-12 formal educators (in-service, alternative route, pre-service) to develop and improve teachers' knowledge of pedagogical content. Fellows demonstrate changes in practice and apply science concepts with NASA content and educational materials.

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  • Engineering Design Challenges

    [Educators & Students Grades 5-12]
    [Available: Nationally]
    The Engineering Design Challenges Project connects students in their classrooms with the challenges faced by NASA engineers as they design the next generation of space vehicles, habitats and technology. Middle and high school students work on design challenges with their teachers. These challenges help students achieve national goals in science, mathematics and thinking skills.

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  • Exploration Infusion

    [Educators & Students Grades K-12]
    [Available: LA and MS]
    NASA curriculum materials in science, technology, engineering and mathematics are used to engage the education communities of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and the Gulf Coast Education Initiative Consortium.

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  • Intergovernmental Personnel Act

    [Educators Grades K-Higher Education]
    [Available: Nationally]
    The Intergovernmental Personnel Act, or IPA, Agreement Assignment Program allows skilled federal and non-federal employees to serve for a limited period for the benefit of both federal and non-federal organizations. Marshall Space Flight Center's assignments are coordinated by the MSFC Office of Human Capital, Academic Affairs Office.

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  • Langley Aerospace Research Summer Scholars Project

    [Educators Grades Pre-K-Higher Education & Students Higher Education]
    [Available: Nationally]
    Participants spend 10 weeks conducting state-of-the-art research with other students from across the nation. They work with NASA researchers exploring an array of high-technology development projects and activities in pursuit of space exploration.

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  • Lewis' Educational & Research Collaborative Internship Project: NASA Scholars Project

    [Educators Grades K-Higher Education & Students Higher Education]
    [Available: Nationally]
    This educational project offers opportunities for college sophomores through doctoral candidates. LERCIP provides students with introductory professional experiences to complement their academic programs and research interests under the guidance of a Glenn Research Center scientist or engineer.

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  • Middle School Aerospace Scholars

    [Educators & Students Grades 6-8]
    [Available: TX]
    MAS gives teams of middle school teachers from across the state of Texas an opportunity to participate in a unique professional development project.

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  • NASA Explorer Schools

    [Educators Grades 4-9]
    [Available: Nationally]
    Schools from across the country are eligible to apply online for an opportunity to partner with NASA in a project designed to bring engaging mathematics, science and technology learning to educators, students and families.

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  • National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program

    [Faculty and Students Higher Education]
    [Available: Nationally]
    This program provides NASA funding for space-related research, education and public service projects through a national network of 52 university-based Space Grant consortia.

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  • Pre-Service Teacher Project

    [Educators Grades K-8 & Students Higher Education]
    [Available: Nationally]
    PSTP gives pre-service teachers and faculty members opportunities to enhance their knowledge and skill in teaching mathematics and science by using technology at the elementary and middle school levels.

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  • Spaceward Bound

    [Educators Grades 5-8 & Students Higher Education]
    [Available: Nationally]
    Spaceward Bound trains the next generation of space explorers by having students and teachers explore scientifically interesting -- but remote and extreme -- environments on Earth as analogs for human exploration of the moon and Mars.

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  • Teaching From Space

    [Educators & Students Grades K-12]
    [Available: Nationally]
    TFS uses the unique environment of human spaceflight to facilitate education opportunities that support science, mathematics, engineering and technology instructional materials through on-orbit education downlinks, demonstration activities and payloads.

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  • Workforce Coalition: Education Task Force

    [Educators K-Higher Education]
    [Available: Nationally]
    The Workforce Coalition task force will use a systems approach to engage community stakeholders in facilitating partnerships to build skills needed for the workforce.

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