Children and adult investigating globes of ice in Icy Orbs activity

Explore Science: Earth & Space Toolkits

Hands-on STEM public engagement activities and professional development resources about Earth and space science.

Featured Activities

Browse all activities in this kit

A group of learners observing a cloud that was made in a plastic bottle

Exploring Earth: Investigating Clouds

In this activity, learners create a cloud in a bottle and explore it with laser light.

A family looks at an image through a blue filter

Exploring the Universe: Filtered Light

In this activity, learners discover how colored filters can help reveal more about an image and we can use light and filters to learn more about an object.

A learner gives commands to another learner who is blindfolded and is navigating a obstacle course.

Exploring the Solar System: Mars Rovers

In this activity, learners must work together to navigate a large obstacle course, similar to how scientists and engineers communicate with rovers to explore distant worlds.

Download Digital Kits

Facilitator and Learner use a block with a rover image to transport astronauts

2020 Explore Science: Earth & Space Digital Toolkit

Digital download of all public engagement and professional development files in the Explore Science: Earth and Space 2020 toolkit designed to engage the public in Earth and space science.

Group of learners celebrating after completing the Moon Adventure game

Moon Adventure Game Digital Kit

In this collaborative game, players will work together to solve a series of challenges grounded in real science about living and doing research on the Moon.

Rising Sea activity showing hands drawing contour lines on plastic box

2019 Explore Science: Earth & Space Digital Toolkit

Digital download of all public engagement and professional development files in the Explore Science: Earth and Space 2019 toolkit designed to engage the public in Earth and space science.

Learner dropping a large marble into a plastic tub of sand to demonstrate the impact of a meteor

2018 Explore Science: Earth & Space Digital Toolkit

Digital download of all public engagement and professional development files in the Explore Science: Earth and Space 2018 toolkit designed to engage the public in Earth and space science.

Mother and two daughters investigating giant balls of ice in Ice Orbs activity

2017 Explore Science: Earth & Space Digital Toolkit

Digital download of all public engagement and professional development files in the Explore Science: Earth and Space 2017 toolkit designed to engage the public in Earth and space science.

Event Planning and Promotion Guide

Cover of the promotional guide

Explore Science: Earth & Space Event Planning and Promotion Guide

Promotional materials for Explore Science: Earth & Space events including event planning and partnership guides, release forms, and additional resources in multiple formats.

View Kit Contents List

Learn more about the Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkits (2017-2020)

Explore Science: Earth & Space 2020 toolkit - contents list

Kit contents list for the Explore Science: Earth & Space 2020 toolkit. Hands-on STEM public engagement activities and professional development resources about Earth and space science.

Explore Science: Earth & Space 2019 toolkit - contents list

Kit contents list for the Explore Science: Earth & Space 2019 toolkit. Hands-on STEM public engagement activities and professional development resources about Earth and space science.

Explore Science: Earth & Space 2018 toolkit - contents list

Kit contents list for the Explore Science: Earth & Space 2018 toolkit. Hands-on STEM public engagement activities and professional development resources about Earth and space science.

Explore Science: Earth & Space 2017 toolkit - contents list

Kit contents list for the Explore Science: Earth & Space 2017 toolkit. Hands-on STEM public engagement activities and professional development resources about Earth and space science.

View Contents of each toolkit (2017-2020)

Learn more about the Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkits

Extending the Experience

NASA resource collage

NASA Resources Showcase

Quickly learn about a selection of high-quality NASA resources relevant to museum educators and their audiences.

Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkit extensions

Resources you can use to extend the visitor experience if you want to go into more depth or expand the length of your Explore Science: Earth & Space activities.

Training Videos

Explore Science: Earth & Space activity and content training videos

Explore Science: Earth & Space activity and content training videos

Training videos for educators and volunteers focused on Earth and Space science activities.

Earth & Space Frameworks

Earth and Space learning framework connecting activities to learning concepts

Earth & Space Learning and Content Frameworks

This content framework and learning framework are professional learning tools for informal educators engaging the public with the hands-on activities in the Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkits and the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition.

Physical Toolkits

Physical toolkits have been awarded to all 50 states, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and US Virgin Islands.

United States mapping showing distribution of Earth & Space toolkits

Reports

NISE Network partners who received a physical Explore Science: Earth and Space 2020 toolkit are required to submit an online report due February 15, 2021.

Learn more about how to submit online reports

Learn More About the Project

Space and Earth Informal STEM Education (SEISE) project

The Space and Earth Informal STEM Education (SEISE) project raises the capacity of museums and informal science educators to engage the public in Heliophysics, Earth Science, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics and their social dimensions. SEISE has created four hands-on activity toolkits and a small footprint exhibition, and offers a variety of ongoing professional development.