About Us
PLANETS is a NASA Science Activation-funded initiative that provides STEM resources for out-of-school-time (OST) educators and learners in grades 3–8, with an emphasis on NASA planetary science and engineering. PLANETS started in 2016 and addresses the need for high-quality OST STEM curriculum, along with educator resources and professional learning, to ensure educators provide successful STEM learning experiences. OST learning may occur before or after school, on weekends, or during intersession breaks through programming provided by camps, afterschool clubs, or community organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs. PLANETS has been accessed in all 50 US states, and many US territories and countries around the world.
PLANETS Co-Design Model
This model reflects the collaborative work of hundreds of OST educators and our key partners, including Northern Arizona University (NAU), USGS Astrobiology, WestEd, the Museum of Science, Boston, and Magnolia Consulting.
Credits and Acknowledgements
We could not have developed these resources without amazing contributions from our co-design team that includes curriculum developers, NASA subject matter experts (SMEs), professionals with expertise on inclusivity and accessibility, and OST educators. PLANETS is a NASA Grantee. Funding has been provided through the Science Activation program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (#NNX16AC53A).
