This week’s Distance Learning theme is aquatics. For today’s lesson, we’re making connections between deep sea and deep space by exploring the “how” and “why” of underwater astronaut training. Let’s “dive in” and get started!

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our very first Facebook Live event, in celebration of the Hubble Space Telescope’s 30th birthday! Faithe and Sarah had a blast presenting on live video feed about the history and significance of the Hubble Space Telescope. (Hubble launched from the Kennedy Space Center on the shuttle Discovery on April 24, 1990.)

In this post, we share additional Hubble resources, to keep the learning coming all weekend. In particular, there are plenty of opportunities to dive deeper into the Cosmic Reef—which we are able to visit via the special Hubble image “Tapestry of Blazing Starbirth” that was publicly revealed for the first time on April 24, 2020.

Use modeling clay to create a simple model of the Earth’s layered structure!

Upcycle leftover packaging to create this cute all-ages cloud mobile!

Since 1970, communities and activists have celebrated Earth Day on April 22. On this day, people all over the world show their support for environmental protection, advocating and working to make our planet a cleaner and healthier place for all of us. This year, for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the theme is climate change.

The Earth Day Network offers many opportunities the join and follow the global movement for environmentalism. For something closer to home, the Discovery Center will be posting crafts, resources, activities throughout the day, with the aim of learning about—and appreciating the beauty in—our very own home planet. We hope you’ll celebrate with us!

Learn how different colors interact with heat in this simple solar-powered activity!

This activity is geared toward elementary-level learners, but can easily scale up or down depending on existing science knowledge. Younger children may appreciate performing the experiment with less emphasis on the background and concluding information, while older students may choose to supplement this lesson with in-depth research on wavelengths and energy.

Make your own bouncy ball with this easy at-home recipe

A fun all-ages activity, with adult supervision required for younger learners (mess potential!)

Join one of our educators for an at-home science demonstration about invisibility!

Rock and soil samples reveal a lot about the chemistry, physical structure, and ability to support life on a planet, moon, or asteroid.

Can you complete this engineering challenge to design a device that takes core samples of a potato “asteroid”? This activity is geared toward upper-elementary and middle-school students.

Join one of our educators for a series of at-home science demonstrations on atmospheric pressure!

Weather: it’s more than just a conversation-starter.

What causes weather, how do we study it, and what is the weather like on other planets? Learn all about it in today’s lesson, geared toward middle-school learners!

Formulate the diameter of the moon using proportions.

This activity is geared toward middle- and high schoolers due to the mathematical component.

Learn how clouds form—and see it in action!—with this at-home science lesson and video demonstration.

Have you ever seen the big Newton’s Cradle at the Discovery Center? Today we’re bringing the museum to you, with a virtual exhibit! Get up close and personal with the conservation of momentum and energy in this video demo.