Launched in 2014, Space Club began in San Antonio, Texas as an afterschool STEM program that inspires youth with hands-on engineering design and space exploration activities. From launching rockets to designing colonies on Mars, over 1,500 students have participated in the Communities In Schools of San Antonio Space Club program.
With the support of a NASA grant through the New Worlds Await You program, Space Club is going national! Launch a Space Club program at your school to bring real-world engineering that inspires and prepares students for STEM pathways. Space Club students will learn from NASA professionals, complete engineering challenges, compete for epic prizes like telescopes and quadcopters, and connect with students across the country!
Click here to learn more about how to bring Space Club to your middle school.
Grants for training and supplies are available for CIS-SA schools! Contact stem@cissa.org.
What is Space Club?
Space Club is typically run as a year-long, weekly afterschool program. The fall semester focuses on team building and the introduction of the engineering design process. In the spring, students form teams to complete a capstone design project such as designing a colony on Mars. Space Club also involves STEM mentors and field trips to increase engagement. However, due to the uncertainty of in-person learning, programming in 2020 – 2021 will be replaced with a virtual format to allow students to have a continuation of STEM enrichment.
Why Space Club?
Space Club inspires and prepares students for STEM pathways by building a foundation of STEM skills. The curriculum is written by a team of engineers and educators to connect school subjects to real-world engineering. Space Club sponsors and mentors facilitate student-centered programming that builds relationships and cultivates a lasting interest in science and engineering.
Program evaluators have found that Space Club increases interest and persistence in STEM pathways. A longitudinal study found that 80% of Space Club students remained on a STEM track in high school compared to 30% of peers.
Looking for more STEM resources? Check out the following free materials to support distance learning.
- Weekly At-Home STEM Video: Click here or below for a weekly engineering design challenge video for students and their families to participate in. CIS-SA STEM team members, aerospace and mechanical engineers, will lead you through building challenges using household items to encourage STEM learning for students at home.
- STEM Take-Home Activity Chart (PreK – 12): Click here for English or Spanish versions of six weeks of daily enrichment activities including online and offline versions for PreK – 12th grades.
Thank you to our sponsors and partners for making it possible to bring STEM programming to our students and families!
