child education
NASA Selects 21 New Learning Projects to Engage Students in STEM
Last Updated on July 27, 2024 by Daily News Staff
Credits: NASA
NASA is awarding more than $3.8 million to 21 museums, science centers, and other informal education institutions for projects designed to bring the excitement of space science to communities across the nation and broaden student participation in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
Projects were selected for NASA’s Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions (TEAM II) program and TEAM II Community Anchor Awards. Both are funded through NASA’s Next Generation STEM (Next Gen STEM), which supports kindergarten to 12-grade students, caregivers, and formal and informal educators in engaging the Artemis Generation in the agency’s missions and discoveries. The selected projects will engage their communities in a wide variety of STEM topics, from aeronautics and Earth science to human space exploration.
TEAM II: NASA-Based Learning Opportunities
NASA’s vision for TEAM II is to enhance the capability of informal education institutions to host NASA-based learning activities while increasing the institutions’ capacity to use innovative tools and platforms to bring NASA resources to students. The agency has selected four institutions to receive approximately $3.2 million in cooperative agreements for projects they will implement during the next three years.
The selected institutions and their proposed projects are:
- Universities Space Research Association, Columbia, Maryland
Virtual Trips to Extreme Environments - Michigan Science Center, Detroit, Michigan
Urban Skies – Equitable Universe: Using Open Space to Empower Youth to Explore Their Solar System and Beyond - Museum of Science, Boston, Massachusetts
UNITED (Unveiling NASA’s Inspirational Tales of Exploration and Discovery) - University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado
Using a Network of Ozone Bioindicator Gardens to Engage Communities on Air Quality and NASA’s TEMPO Mission
Community Anchors: Local Connections to NASA
The designation as a Community Anchor recognizes institutions as local hubs bringing NASA STEM and space science to students and families in traditionally underserved areas. The agency has selected 17 institutions to receive more than $660,000 in grants to help make these one- to two-year projects a reality, enhancing the local impact and strengthening their ability to build sustainable connections between their communities and NASA.
The selected institutions and their proposed projects are:
- St. Anna’s Episcopal Church, New Orleans, Louisiana
Communicating Our Future For Education Expansion (COFFEE) - Frontiers of Flight Museum, Inc., Dallas, Texas
Youth STEM Initiative – STEM Leaders in Education - Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Our Earth From Above - Pacific Science Center Foundation, Seattle, Washington
Connecting Youth to the Journey of Human Space Flight - National Space Science & Technology Institute, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Mobile Earth + Space Observatory Science Experiences for Engaging Rural Students - Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
Because I’m Earth it: A NebrASkA Experience - Pajarito Environmental Education Center, Los Alamos, New Mexico
Exploring STEM Opportunities from New Mexico to the Solar System - Scienceworks Hands-On Museum, Ashland, Oregon
ScienceWorks Robotics in Space Program - City of Manhattan, Kansas
Flying Cleaner and Faster: Connecting Kansas Kids to the Future of Aviation - Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Kentucky
Afterschool NASA Production Club - Utah State University, Logan, Utah
4-H Moon to Mars Tetrathlon - New York Hall of Science, Queens, New York
Connecting Communities to Real Time Astronomy Phenomena: Solar Eclipse 2024 - Monterey Institute for Research In Astronomy, Marina, California
MIRA la Luna: Igniting Interest in STEM for Middle School Students of the Salinas Valley - Infinity Science Center, Inc., Pearlington, Mississippi
Outreach STEM Education: Bringing NASA STEM Education to local communities through local county library systems and INFINITY Science Center - Sierra Nevada Journeys, Reno, Nevada
NASA Family STEM Nights - Union Station Kansas City, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri
Union Station Kansas City Inc NASA Team II Proposal - Eugene Science Center Inc., Eugene, Oregon
Sky’s The Limit: Access to Portable Planetarium Experiences for Rural and Title I Schools to Address Disparity in STEM Proficiency
Next Gen STEM is a project within NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, which develops unique resources and experiences to spark student interest in STEM and build a skilled and diverse next generation workforce. For the latest NASA STEM events, activities, and news, visit:
Source: NASA
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More Than Hair: How the Back-to-School Haircut Impacts Confidence
(Feature Impact) For years, parents make nearly every style decision for their children – from first-day outfits to picture-day haircuts. Then, almost overnight, those little ones develop opinions of their own about what to wear and how to style their hair.
As boys enter middle and high school, 84% of parents notice their sons care significantly or somewhat more about their appearance, based on results of a survey conducted by Atomik Research on behalf of Sport Clips Haircuts, a sports-themed haircutting franchise specializing in haircuts for men and boys.
What’s more, according to the American Psychological Association, physical appearance is an important part of adolescent identity, helping young people express themselves while also navigating social expectations and peer relationships. Those expectations have added more pressure on children and teens to present themselves well as nearly three-quarters of parents surveyed (71%) said boys today face more pressure to look put-together going into a new school year than they remember from their own school years.
Haircuts are Becoming Part of Back-to-School Checklists
While shopping for school supplies, organizing backpacks and choosing first-day outfits are all familiar traditions ahead of a new school year, scheduling a haircut is increasingly part of the back-to-school agenda. While 20% of parents surveyed notice their child shift back into school mode when they pick out their first-day outfit, and another 19% said it’s when their sons pack or organize their bags, 71% said getting their son a fresh haircut or new hairstyle has become a reliable part of their back-to-school routine.
In fact, more than one-third of parents said their preteen or teenage sons are the ones asking for a back-to-school haircut. Another 22% said they bring it up around the same time, meaning more than half of boys are already thinking about how they’ll show up on the first day.
The Connection Between Appearance and Confidence
Ninety-five percent of parents surveyed said the way their son feels about his appearance influences how confidently he approaches school, sports and social activities. As boys age and want to choose their own style, a haircut is only one piece of the equation. Allowing them to choose clothes they feel comfortable wearing as well as having conversations about what they’re looking forward to (and what they’re nervous about) as another school year begins are also part of the preparations that can help boost self-esteem before they ever walk through the school doors.
The Hairstyles Boys are Asking for This Year
If you thought parents’ opinions about theirs sons’ haircuts mattered, think again. More than half of boys ages 11-17 know exactly what haircut they want before the school year begins. Parents report many are inspired by celebrities, athletes or digital creators.
According to the survey, 30% of boys want a tapered fade like the one U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese wore during the 2026 World Cup. Nearly a quarter (24%) of respondents said their child wants a classic cut, similar to YouTuber Caylus Cunningham. Only 10% of boys are requesting a longer or shaggy style, like actor Jacob Elordi, and even fewer are looking for fringe bangs; the “broccoli cut,” which is short on the sides and curly on top; or a buzz cut.
Whether it’s a subtle trim or a completely new style, the back-to-school haircut has evolved into one of the first opportunities each school year for boys to express themselves. Learn more about this year’s trends, and schedule an appointment ahead of the school year, at sportclipsinc.com.
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Family
7 Tricks to Ease Back-to-School Chaos with a Little Magic
Ease Back-to-School Chaos: Between shopping for supplies, coordinating the family’s schedules and trying to make sure everyone is looking and feeling their best, there’s a lot going on this time of year. While you may not be able to wave a wand and make all the stress disappear, you can use these tips and tricks to save time and add a touch of excitement to the back-to-school season.
7 Tricks to Ease Back-to-School Chaos with a Little Magic
(Feature Impact) Everyone could use a little more magic in their everyday lives – but when it comes to back-to-school season, “manic” often feels like the more accurate word. Between shopping for supplies, coordinating the family’s schedules and trying to make sure everyone is looking and feeling their best, there’s a lot going on this time of year.
While you may not be able to wave a wand and make all the stress disappear, you can use these tips and tricks – courtesy of the haircut magicians at Great Clips – to save time and add a touch of excitement to the back-to-school season.
//www.youtube.com/embed/4NSGXEdJU4M
Start Routines Early
Instead of waiting for the first day of school to change all your routines, guide your family into the time warp a little more gradually. Shift sleep and wake times a week or two ahead of time so the early wakeups won’t come as such a shock to the system. Adapt meal schedules and other daily habits the same way. Before you know it, the spell will be complete and you’ll be ready to roll with the regular school-day schedules.
Create a Special Back-to-School Tradition
Watching your kids’ eyes light up is its own mini dose of magic that never gets old. Start a fun new tradition to brighten their first day or week. That could be a special breakfast, new outfit, porch photoshoot, surprise gift for them to discover in their backpacks or another creative idea personalized to your family.
Get a Convenient and Affordable Haircut
A haircut can help children and parents get into the back-to-school spirit. That’s why Great Clips partnered with internet celebrity and magician Justin Flom, known for his mind-bending optical illusions, to help remind parents they don’t need complicated tricks to make getting a back-to-school haircut a breeze. With the Great Clips app, parents can easily check in multiple family members at once, keep an eye on wait times and get notified when it’s their turn for a haircut. No illusions, no sleight of hand – just convenient, affordable haircuts that feel like much needed relief for parents.
“Our goal is to help families spend less time waiting and more time doing what matters during one of the busiest seasons of the year,” said Traci Elder, vice president of marketing and communications at Great Clips, Inc. “The Great Clips app helps families save time by making haircuts fit more seamlessly into their busy schedules and at a great price, too.”
Plan Outfits Ahead of Time
The morning rush often feels like the furthest thing from a fairytale. Take at least one groggy decision off your plate by choosing clothes the evening before – or even assembling a week’s worth of outfits on Sunday and storing them in a special drawer that gives your child an instant portal to getting dressed.
Personalize School Supplies
From preferred colors to beloved characters, all kids have their favorites. Stock them up with pens, notebooks, lunchboxes and other supplies that match their current obsessions; that way, it’s more exciting to use them at school and show their swag off to their friends.
Refresh the Study Space
Homework time might look like less of a wizard battle if your kids have a special place to do it. Add some whimsy to their study spaces by putting up string lights, letting them pick out a new piece of furniture or art, and making their environment cozy and comfortable.
Set School Year Goals
As a family, take some time to figure out what each of you wants to achieve this year – and make it fun. Amp up the magic here by writing down your goals; then, keep track of progress by filling up a goal jar with shiny stars, swirly marbles or fun charms. Throughout the school year, set up different “quests” for your family to accomplish.
Discover more about back-to-school haircut magic that saves you time and money at GreatClips.com/BacktoSchool.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock (mom and daughter)
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Food and Beverage
Protein-Packed Snacking for Back-to-School Season
Back-to-School Season: As busy families prepare for hectic school days, it can be invaluable to have nutritious grab-and-go options on hand for lunches and snacks. Having one less thing to worry about makes a difference when you’re juggling work, school, sports practices and games, and other extracurriculars while trying to keep everyone fed and happy.
Last Updated on August 6, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Protein-Packed Snacking for Back-to-School Season
(Feature Impact) As busy families prepare for hectic school days, it can be invaluable to have nutritious grab-and-go options on hand for lunches and snacks. Having one less thing to worry about makes a difference when you’re juggling work, school, sports practices and games, and other extracurriculars while trying to keep everyone fed and happy.
Watch this video to learn more
Since protein is an important nutrient for energy and satiety, choosing options like PB2Go Cups could be the perfect solution. As the pioneer of powdered peanut butter, PB2 has made it more portable than ever with the introduction of their new, on-the-go cups.
With 10-11 grams of protein per cup, they’re easy to toss in a lunchbox or backpack, offering a convenient way to keep your family powered up through the afternoon. Simply add water to the fill line, stir with the built-in spoon and enjoy the Original or Chocolate Chip flavors on their own or as a dip with pretzels, crackers, apple slices or bananas for more flavor and fun during your snack break.
“Between packed lunches, busy schedules, and after-school activities, convenient protein options are a game changer,” said registered dietitian Mia Syn, a food and nutrition expert. “That’s why I love PB2Go Cups. With a built-in spoon in the lid, they’re ready to toss in a lunch box, backpack, or gym bag and enjoy wherever the day takes you.”
Whether you’re tackling early-morning school prep or searching for a ready-when-you-are snack to keep in your locker, powdered peanut butter is a healthy, satisfying choice. No stress and no mess makes for a winning combination, and families who value balanced nutrition will appreciate having a quick, pre-portioned source of protein on hand when their schedules are full.
For more information, visit PB2.com.
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