This is one of the best initiatives I’ve seen in the quest to interest kids in science. It’s simple, but it’s wonderful.
Story Time From Space was the brainchild of educator Patricia Tribe and astronaut Alvin Drew. While on the International Space Station, astronauts are videotaping themselves reading books to the children of Earth. These videos are being edited and placed on the Story Time From Space website.
The creators say, “This is an awesome way to connect young children directly to space and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in a very real way. A child can follow along, holding the same book as it is read aloud by an astronaut from space. It makes the concept of space travel concrete, personal, and puts it right in a child’s hands.”
The beauty of this program is that it marries science with a habit we already have for our children… storytelling. We introduce language at a young age; why not introduce science at that age too?
This plan is especially important for our young girls. If we can get them interested in science before they start to be influenced by gender stereotypes we stand a chance of broadening their options in the future.
Rosie Revere: Getting Girls Into Science And Teaching Them To Fail
My favourite episode is the reading of the story Rosie Revere, Engineer written by Andrea Beaty and read by astronaut Kate Rubins. It is the story of a creative, problem-solving little girl named Rosie.
Rosie invents amazing contraptions. Strangely, they all involve cheese. She is laughed at, and at first, she is discouraged. However, she has a wonderful eccentric Great, Great Aunt Rose who motivates Rosie. She is the role model that Rosie needs.
Great, Great Aunt Rose teaches little Rosie, “The only true failure occurs when you quit.” She makes failure fun. She celebrates it with gusto, telling Rosie, “Your brilliant first flop was a raging success, come on, let’s get busy and get onto the next”.
This story presents messages that so many of our kids need to hear. Fear of failure and a lack of grit are holding our children back from being the thinkers and creators they could be. The picture book also has the obvious message that girls can be great scientists and inventors.
Other Titles
There are many other titles on the website, including:
The Incredible Intergalactic Journey Home
The Wizard Who Saved the World
Max Goes to the International Space Station
Ada Lace Take Me to Your Leader (Part 1, 2 & 3)
The Incredible Intergalactic Journey Home
Science Time From Space
There is also a section on the site called Science Time, where astronauts conduct science experiments. There are even downloadable worksheets for students.
What an amazing resource!
