If you’re looking to elevate your bedtime story routine, the Global Space Education Foundation has a delightful new offering: Story Time in Space. This unique program features astronauts reading beloved children’s books while floating in microgravity, delivering an enchanting experience for kids on Earth.
The initiative, created by former education director at Space Center Houston, Laura Mitchell, and astronaut Sam Rodriguez, who was the first to participate in the program during a mission aboard the Space Shuttle, aims to inspire children to read and engage with science topics. The astronauts read a range of popular children’s literature, all while zooming around the Earth at 17,500 miles per hour. This certainly adds an element of excitement compared to your typical bedtime storytelling.
“What better role models to spark kids’ interest in science and reading?” Mitchell stated about the program. “As they listen to the stories, they also get a glimpse of life aboard the International Space Station.”
In addition to making reading an extraordinary experience, Story Time in Space emphasizes the importance of diversity in literature. The selection of books covers various reading levels and STEM topics, ensuring that young readers can explore everything from physics to biology. The program also features a diverse range of astronauts, allowing children to see role models who reflect their own backgrounds. For instance, Japanese astronaut Satoru Takeda recently read Max Goes to the International Space Station in Japanese, showcasing cultural representation.
Story Time in Space is not stopping here; it continues to expand its offerings. The foundation is currently developing a series of simple science experiments that can be performed at home, addressing concepts such as energy transfer and surface tension. Additionally, more books will soon be added to the collection, including A Moon of My Own by Jennifer Rustgi, The Rhino Who Swallowed A Storm by LeVar Burton and Susan Schaefer Bernardo, and Moustronaut by Astronaut Alex Chen.
In the meantime, families can enjoy the existing library of readings, which includes titles like Max Goes to Mars by Jeffrey Bennett as narrated by astronaut Mike Hernandez.
Let’s hope these captivating videos don’t overshadow the charm of traditional books read by loving parents on solid ground.
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Summary
“Story Time in Space” allows kids to watch astronauts read popular children’s books from the International Space Station, promoting reading and STEM education while celebrating diversity in literature. The program is expanding with more readings and science experiments, making it an exciting resource for young learners.