Welcome to Newsletter 18!
>>Click Here for this week’s Newsletter<<
In our newsletter you will be introduced to a STEM topic and find a related-activity to work on during the week (please share your results with us!), as well as extensions to additional learning or games related to the field. In addition, you will find a Northeastern connection – something Northeastern is doing related to that field. This week’s topic: Astronomy & Space Exploration. For a list of prior blog posts, see the blog index.
Resource Highlight
As an avid gamer myself, I of course have to link some space-related games. I don’t want this to seem like an advertisement, but these games really are fun. NASA, which has many STEM resources for K-12 Educators, also has a collection of free, educational games focused on Space. The well-known and received Kerbal Space Program is also an excellent game focused around building and launching rocket ships into space. Although not free ($40 on steam), the physics are realistic and the game is really fun. A sequel to the game is coming in 2021. FTL: Faster than Light [$10] is another space game, this time one in which you need to manage your spaceship and survive. Another fun game, although very complex and a bit more expensive ($60), Distant Worlds: Universe is a single player, exploration real-time strategy game in space. It’s absolutely massive, with over 1000 star systems to explore.
Web Resources for K-12 Students and Parents
In addition to the resource highlight above, which is tied directly to the Newsletter topic, we will also highlight two new web resources each week.
- nsta Daily Do
The National Science Teaching Association’s collection of Daily sensemaking tasks for teachers and families to engage students in science. Split up by age (Elementary/Middle/High), each Daily Do has a detailed lesson plan, including videos and guiding questions. - ITEEA At-Home Resources
The International Technology and Engineering Educators Association’s compilation of resources to support educators in “social distancing”-style teaching.
