New NASA HEAT and My NASA Data Resources Bring Space Weather Science into Classrooms
NASA has recently launched a suite of educational resources aimed at bringing the fascinating world of space weather into classrooms, coinciding with an increase in solar activity. As the Sun enters its solar maximum phase, characterized by heightened solar flares and coronal mass ejections, the Heliophysics Education Activation Team (NASA HEAT) has partnered with My NASA Data to provide tools that enhance students’ understanding of heliophysics. These resources are designed to engage learners with real-time mission data, allowing them to explore the Sun’s impact on Earth and the broader solar system through hands-on learning experiences.
The newly developed materials include lesson plans, interactive web-based tools, and StoryMaps that facilitate in-depth investigations into space weather phenomena. Utilizing data from NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), and the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter, students can visualize and analyze the Sun’s behavior and its interactions with Earth’s magnetic field. This interaction can lead to stunning auroras, but it can also disrupt communication systems and power grids. By engaging with this real-world data, students will not only learn about the scientific principles of magnetism and energy but also understand the critical importance of monitoring space weather for the safety of astronauts and technology.
These resources are part of NASA’s Science Activation (SciAct) program, which aims to connect learners of all ages with authentic scientific content and experiences. The initiative encourages educators to seize the opportunity presented by the current solar maximum to enrich classroom discussions and inspire future scientists. By fostering a hands-on approach to learning and encouraging students to think like scientists, NASA HEAT and My NASA Data are empowering the next generation to contribute to the ongoing exploration and understanding of our universe.
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New NASA HEAT and My NASA Data Resources Bring Space Weather Science into Classrooms
Space weather is an important part of the Sun’s interaction with the space around it. Scientists called heliophysicists study these phenomena to help us better understand how and why it happens, and the effects it can have on the rest of our solar system.
As the Sun enters a period of heightened activity, students now have a new way to explore its powerful effects on Earth and space. NASA’s Heliophysics Education Activation Team (NASA HEAT), in collaboration with My NASA Data, has released a new set of classroom resources that invite students and educators to engage with real NASA mission data to study space weather phenomena in real time.
Hands-On Learning with Real NASA Data
Developed as part of NASA HEAT’s mission to increase awareness and understanding of heliophysics, these new materials help learners connect directly with the science of the Sun and its influence on the solar system. The resources include:
Lesson plans and mini-lessons for quick classroom engagement
Interactive web-based tools that let students visualize and analyze real mission data
StoryMaps, longer-form digital experiences that guide multi-day investigations into space weather events
These activities draw from data collected by NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), and the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter, among others, giving students a chance to explore how scientists monitor and study the Sun’s behavior.
Understanding Space Weather
Space weather is driven by the Sun’s activity – its bursts of energy, radiation, and plasma that stream through space. When these events interact with Earth’s magnetic field, they can produce stunning auroras but also cause radio disruptions, satellite interference, and power grid issues.
By engaging with these new resources, students can learn how NASA monitors and predicts these solar phenomena and why studying space weather is essential for keeping astronauts, spacecraft, and technology safe.
Learning During Solar Maximum
This launch comes at a perfect time. In late 2024, the Sun entered solar maximum, the most active part of its 11-year cycle, providing students a front-row seat to increased solar flares, sunspots, and coronal mass ejections. The new NASA HEAT and My NASA Data resources encourage educators to use this unique moment to deepen classroom discussions on magnetism, energy, and the Sun–Earth connection through observation and data-driven exploration.
Inspiring Future Scientists
Both NASA HEAT and My NASA Data, part of GLOBE Mission Earth (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment), are part of the NASA Science Activation (SciAct) program, which connects learners of all ages with authentic NASA science content, experts, and experiences. By bringing real-world data and current scientific phenomena into the classroom, these new tools empower students to think like scientists and see themselves as contributors to ongoing discovery.
Explore the New Resources
NASA HEAT – Framework for Heliophysics Education
My NASA Data – Space Weather
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Last Updated
Nov 24, 2025
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NASA Science Editorial Team
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For Kids and Students
Grades 5 – 8 for Educators
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