Celebrate Trailblazing Astronaut’s Accomplishments with STEM
Record-breaking NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson is set to shatter another mark, and you and your students can celebrate this historic event with some fun and educational resources that will enhance your students’ knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
On Monday, April 24, Dr. Whitson will break the record for the longest cumulative time spent in space by a U.S. astronaut. You and your students can watch the special Earth-to-space call via livestream on the NASA website and Facebook page at 10 a.m. EDT as President Donald Trump and First Daughter Ivanka Trump congratulate Whitson on this tremendous achievement.
WATCH HERE: https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html#public
Dr. Whitson’s career at NASA is filled with landmark achievements. In 2008, she became the first woman to command the International Space Station (ISS), and her current mission makes her the first woman to command the ISS twice. In 2007, she and astronaut Pam Melroy became the first two female mission commanders in space at the same time.
She is not only the oldest and most experienced astronaut but the oldest and most experienced spacewalker as well. Earlier this year, she broke the records for number of spacewalks and for longest duration of spacewalks. A teacher as well as an astronaut, Dr. Whitson, who earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, taught Biochemical and Genetic Engineering at Rice University and Biological Chemistry and Genetics at the University of Texas Medical Branch.
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is teaming with NASA and the White House to recognize Dr. Whitson’s impressive achievements and provide videos, podcasts, and other materials that can help your students’ growth in STEM. These materials include:
ED and NASA are in the third year of a partnership focused on STEM education. Other resources for teachers offered through the 21stCentury Community Learning Centers emphasize topics such as solving engineering design challenges and environmental observation. ED also provides a resource document on STEM education, early learner materials, and computer science resources.
You and your students can also share Dr. Whitson’s experiences in space on Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook. ED is proud to join the President and NASA in recognizing Dr. Whitson for her many impressive accomplishments, both on earth and in space, for being a role model, as well as a trailblazing woman in STEM.
