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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child education
Where Curiosity Builds Trade Skills: 5 Ways to Help Kids Discover the Skilled Trades
Help Kids Discover the Skilled Trades: Parents, educators and mentors can encourage young people to broaden their horizons as they plan their futures and build awareness around careers in the skilled trades with these tips.
Where Curiosity Builds Trade Skills: 5 Ways to Help Kids Discover the Skilled Trades
(Feature Impact) Most students hear questions about what they want to be when they grow up. By the time their middle and high school years arrive, they’re often starting to consider their answers more in depth. Conversations with adults can help shape their awareness of and interest in various career paths, including skilled trades.
When they’re provided with opportunities to learn, build, experiment and solve problems, young people can discover whether their talents and passions are a good fit for a career in the trades. Programs likePath to Pro Skills Explorers, launched by The Home Depot in partnership with Scouting America and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, provide free, accessible ways to introduce students to options like the plumbing, construction and electrical fields, as well as content on leadership and soft skills.
Parents, educators and mentors can encourage young people to broaden their horizons as they plan their futures and build awareness around careers in the skilled trades with these tips.
Start Career Conversations Early
Choosing a career path doesn’t have to be one intimidating, life-changing moment. Parents and mentors can normalize career conversations by starting them early and keeping things casual. Opening the dialogue sparks curiosity about the activities kids enjoy and allows them to start connecting those interests to potential career paths. To get started, set kids up with access to online programs, videos and introductory courses so they can explore a variety of possibilities.
Turn Curiosity Into Hands-On Learning
For many students, learning by doing is the most satisfying way to test, improve and build skills. Instead of only reading textbooks or listening to instructors, offer them the chance to follow a plan, work with different materials, troubleshoot problems and build something tangible. Young people considering hands-on careers need hands-on practice to develop confidence and adaptability. Take the first step by researching online resources and local opportunities for classes, job shadowing or even apprenticeships.
Recognize the Skills Kids Are Already Building
Skilled trades aren’t just about knowing which wires to connect or what tool to reach for. They also rely on a variety of soft skills like communication, patience, critical thinking, time management, attention to detail and more. When kids demonstrate these traits, point them out and encourage them. Take opportunities to let them experiment with hands-on projects, whether they want to try building a treehouse, repairing a bike or tinkering with technology.
Expand Views of Career Pathways and Success
The road to success is more like an intersection. Let young people know there are many pathways to fulfilling careers and futures, and while the traditional college-to-career plan can still be a viable option, it isn’t the only one. Skilled trades offer competitive salaries, job security and the opportunity to learn hands-on skills that will always be in demand. Even in a world where technology is rapidly changing many career fields, it takes skilled workers to replace roofs, repair electrical systems, fix sewer lines and lead disaster recovery efforts.
Find Programs That Make Skilled Trades Exploration Accessible
There is a gap between labor supply and demand in the trades, and it’s only widening as older generations approach retirement age. Programs like The Home Depot’s Skills Explorers are designed to empower young people to step into these roles by providing a mix of online resources and hands-on activities to explore viable career paths. As a key part of a commitment by The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation to deliver 15 million introductions to the skilled trades by 2032, the program offers an accessible, no-cost curriculum for youth education groups to learn what it’s like to work in these important fields.
“For years, The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation’s Path to Pro program have helped separating military, career changers and others build pathways to the trades,” said Michael Rowe, executive vice president of Pro for The Home Depot. “We know that closing the skilled labor gap starts much earlier. We need more young people to see what’s possible and understand the lucrative opportunities these careers provide.”
Visit pathtopro.com/skills-explorers to access the free curriculum and discover how to bring hands-on skilled trade exploration to students.
SOURCE:
🔧 Curiosity today can become a skill for tomorrow. Giving kids opportunities to build, fix, create, and explore trades at an early age can turn natural curiosity into confidence, practical skills, and even inspiration for a future career. Whether it’s woodworking, automotive repair, cooking, electronics, or construction, hands-on learning shows kids that there’s more than one path to success. Visit: https://stmdailynews.com/lifestyle/
Community
Zum Begins 2026–27 School Year With Expanded Student Transportation Network
Zum is launching the 2026–27 school year with expanded school bus operations in Fresno, Los Angeles and other communities, bringing real-time tracking and modern transportation technology to students and families.
New partnerships in Fresno and Kansas join ongoing operations in Omaha, St. Louis, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles
As millions of students return to classrooms, transportation company Zūm is beginning the 2026–27 school year with new district partnerships, expanded technology deployments and thousands of drivers preparing for what the company calls “the most important commute in America.”
The Redwood City, California-based student mobility company announced that its teams have completed months of driver training, route validation and operational planning ahead of the new academic year.
“There is nothing quite like the first day of school at Zum,” founder and CEO Ritu Narayan said in the company’s announcement. “You see drivers arriving before sunrise, teams making final preparations and buses rolling out of yards across the country—all united around one purpose: getting students safely and reliably to school.”
New buses roll out in Fresno
One of Zūm’s largest new launches is in California’s Fresno Unified School District. According to the company, 168 buses were placed into service just two weeks after its local team moved into a new transportation yard.
The district is also introducing the Zūm Parent App, which allows families to track buses in real time, receive arrival alerts, view scheduled rides and receive notifications when a child boards or exits a bus. Registered students will receive bus cards connected to the transportation system, according to Fresno Unified.
The rollout is part of a broader change in how Fresno Unified manages student transportation. Routes and stops will continue to be evaluated using registration information, actual ridership and family feedback, the district says. Beginning September 28, registered students will generally be required to show a bus pass before boarding. Fresno Unified’s transportation page provides registration instructions and assistance for families.
Technology comes to LAUSD’s in-house fleet
In Los Angeles, Zūm says its CMX technology has been deployed across the Los Angeles Unified School District’s internally operated bus fleet.
The platform is designed to connect routing, dispatch, drivers, schools, transportation officials and families through one operating system. Its tools include real-time vehicle visibility, route planning, operational coordination and family communications.
Rather than replacing the district’s in-house drivers, the Los Angeles deployment focuses on providing the technology used to coordinate district-operated buses.
New partnership in Kansas
Zūm also began a new partnership with the Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas. District leaders, drivers, monitors and school employees marked the start of the program with a launch celebration.
The company said Shawnee Mission’s transition is intended to give the district a more modern and technology-supported approach to student transportation.
Meanwhile, Zūm is returning for a third school year in Omaha and Santa Barbara. Its St. Louis operation is entering its second year.
Drivers remain at the center
Although technology plays a growing role in school transportation, Zūm emphasized that drivers remain essential to the daily experience of students and their families.
“Back to school is when months of preparation come to life,” said Liz Sanchez, Zūm’s executive vice president of student mobility. “Our teams spend months hiring and training drivers, validating routes and working alongside our district partners to prepare.”
Drivers often serve as the first school-related adults students see in the morning and the last they see before returning home. Their work can also determine whether students arrive safely and on time—especially in communities where families have limited transportation choices.
A changing school-bus experience
School transportation has traditionally depended on separate systems for scheduling, dispatching, vehicle tracking and communicating with parents. Zūm CMX is designed to bring those functions together and give school districts a clearer view of their daily operations.
For families, the most visible change may be access to real-time bus locations and arrival notifications. These tools can reduce some of the uncertainty associated with late buses, route changes and missed pickups.
Zūm reports that its technology and transportation services now support more than 6,500 schools across 19 states. As the company expands, the 2026–27 school year will test how effectively its technology, drivers and district partnerships can translate into dependable daily service.
For students, however, the goal remains straightforward: a safe ride to school, a reliable trip home and one less obstacle between them and their education.
This article is based primarily on information provided in an August 21, 2026, Zūm press release. Statements about the company’s national reach, fleet deployments and technology are attributed to Zūm unless independently noted.
Source: Zūm official website
Related links:
- Fresno Unified: Zūm Parent App
- Fresno Unified: New Transportation Model
- Fresno Unified: Bus Routes
- Fresno Unified: Back-to-School Resources
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Family
6 Hacks to Prep Your Mudroom for Back-to-School Season
When school is back in session, it means a lot of coming and going to and from your home – often in a rush. Start with these mudroom organization and habit hacks to make your family’s daily routines a little easier.
(Feature Impact) When school is back in session, it means a lot of coming and going to and from your home – often in a rush. Smooth out those morning scrambles and save yourself some afternoon cleanups by turning your mudroom into a space that feels more organized and less chaotic.
Start with these mudroom organization and habit hacks to make your family’s daily routines a little easier.
Do a Beginning-of-Year Declutter
If the coat hooks are still sporting rain jackets the kids outgrew several seasons ago, that’s your sign to plan a purge. Out with the old, in with the new: collect last year’s coats, too-small shoes, the backpack with the broken zipper, worn-out accessories and that pile of junk mail then figure out what to keep, toss and donate.
Create a “Get-Out-The-Door” Spot for Essentials
“Have you seen my…” is a sentence you can only stand to hear (and say) so many times in one morning. Set up shelves or baskets for important items like keys, permission slips, library books, water bottles, lunchboxes, sports gear and anything else that needs to leave the house with the family. Repetition will build the habit, and even if things still get lost from time to time, this system gives everyone a first place to look.
Choose a Shoe System
Whether you’re a shoe rack kind of family or you’ve got DIY dreams of building an aesthetic wooden bench with shoe storage underneath, lock it in. Shoes are easy for kids to kick off when they get home, and if they aren’t sure where to put them, they’ll remain wherever they land or pile up by the door. Also consider putting down washable mats so grime doesn’t accumulate on your rack or floor.
Give Each Child a Designated Drop Zone
It’s easier for kids to stay organized when they have their own dedicated spaces to hang up jackets, set down backpacks, put shoes and store everyday essentials. Provide each child with their own coat hooks, cubbies, bins or lockers. Build them at kid-friendly heights and make it fun by letting everyone decorate their own zone.
Have Options Ready for Bad Weather
With a little advanced planning, you can prevent your mudroom from living up to its name. Set up a rainy-day corner with an umbrella stand, boot tray, towel basket and hooks or racks to hang damp outerwear. Keep a laundry hamper in the mudroom, too, so wet clothes and dirty uniforms don’t migrate through the house.
Label Storage Areas Clearly
Nearly everyone’s been there: you start a new organization system feeling efficient and optimistic, then over time, memories lapse and it descends back into anarchy. Labels may not stop this from happening every time, but at least they might make kids stop and consider whether their books should go in the basket labeled “Books” or on top of the shoe rack. That’s one step closer to restoring order.
For more back-to-school tips and tricks, visit eLivingToday.com.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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