Learners who are ready to make advancements that will shape the rest of the century and beyond tend to be excited by flexible, open-ended, project-based, real-world learning situations. These types of problem-solving opportunities not only teach content skills, but instill curiosity, which is fundamental to lifelong learning, and help to develop communication and teamwork skills — as well as the freedom and responsibility that comes from taking charge of their own learning.

World Computer Literacy Day is December 2nd! This celebration of computers began in 2001, founded by the National Institute of Information Technology, an Indian computer company, after research suggested that the majority of computer users around the world were men. What started as an initiative intended to encourage the development of technological skills, particularly among children and women in India, has since expanded with aims to "create awareness and drive digital literacy in underserved communities worldwide.”

This World Space Week, blast off to the International Space Station with a free download of our Liftoff: Engineering Rockets and Rovers unit. In this unit you and your students will learn about the trade-offs and variables involved in engineering a rocket or space rover as you complete a real-life challenge ideal for students in grades 3-5.

As part of our partnership with NASA, the Liftoff unit features eight 45-minute activities for students to explore and learn about the engineering skills needed to explore planets and moons in our universe.

It’s the anniversary of the moon landing! In 1969, the Apollo 11 mission landed among the stars, marking one giant step for man and a giant leap for mankind. 53 years after the mission, people across the world are once again celebrating the moon landing, the odds that were stacked against it and how it continues to influence spaceflight. This year, here are some space-themed resources and activities to explore to support learning: