Texas 360 Educator Professional Development Opportunity
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
9:30 am
–2:00 pm
*Requires registration
Space Center Houston is home to the Educator Resource Center (ERC) for NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). As the Official Visitor Center, we serve as one of the world’s leading science and space exploration learning centers, providing immersive professional development experiences for educators.
Our professional development programs equip teachers with NASA-aligned instructional resources, hands-on learning experiences, and innovative strategies to engage students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Note: Schedule subject to change.
Our new Professional Development Series is designed to provide transformative in-person learning opportunities that connect educators using NASA’s latest missions and research.
These sessions go beyond traditional professional development, offering interactive challenges, engineering design experiences, and exclusive access to exhibits and NASA resources.
Each session includes:
Commitment | Approx. 8 hours
Explore the Moon like never before in this immersive professional development experience for educators! Spend the day at Space Center Houston diving into lunar geology, NASA’s Artemis missions, and classroom-ready science strategies.
Participate in hands-on crater simulations, explore actual lunar samples through the Astromaterials 3D digital collection, and take on a team-based lunar rover coding challenge inspired by real-world sample return missions. Learn directly from NASA scientists, tour authentic artifacts and exhibits, and walk away with high-quality resources, instructional strategies, and renewed excitement for teaching space exploration.
8:30 a.m. | Registration & welcome
9:00 a.m. | Keynote: Artemis Mission Scientific Objectives
9:45 a.m. | Interactive Session 1: Lunar Geology & Impact Cratering
10:45 a.m. | Facility Tour: Artemis and Beyond
11:30 a.m. | Lunch & networking
12:15 p.m. | Interactive Session 2: Lunar Rover Sample Return Challenge
1:15 p.m. | Debrief & Instructional Strategy Session
1:45 p.m. | Teaching Resources Hub
2:30 p.m. | Self-Guided Exploration of Space Center Houston
Commitment | Approx. 8 hours
What’s it really like to live in space? Find out in this immersive professional development experience for educators featuring a keynote by a NASA astronaut.
Through interactive challenges, behind-the-scenes tours, and classroom-ready instructional strategies, educators will explore what it takes to live and work aboard the International Space Station and future missions beyond Earth. Design your own crew habitat, explore NASA’s Astronaut Training Facility (Building 9), and experience the new Gateway Habitation Module display. Learn how to bring these stories and STEM concepts into your classroom through engaging lessons and ready-to-use resources.
8:30 a.m. | Registration & welcome
9:00 a.m. | Keynote: Living and Working in Space
9:45 a.m. | Interactive Session 1: Space Habitats and Crew Life
10:45 a.m. | Facility Tour: Astronaut Gallery and Training Mockups
11:30 a.m. | Lunch & networking
12:15 p.m. | Interactive Session 2: Microgravity Team Challenges
1:15 p.m. | Debrief & Instructional Strategy Session
1:45 p.m. | Teaching Resources Hub
2:30 p.m. | Self-Guided Exploration of Space Center Houston
Commitment | Approx. 8 hours
Get ready for liftoff in this high-energy professional development session for educators focused on rockets, satellites, and the engineering behind space exploration.
The day begins with a panel of NASA engineers who will share real-world experiences and return as guest judges for a collaborative design challenge. Through lab-style activities and hands-on problem-solving using classroom-friendly “mission kits,” participants will explore the principles of propulsion, force, and trajectory. Tour real spacecraft and launch system exhibits at Space Center Houston and walk away with classroom-ready strategies, instructional resources, and the confidence to bring engineering to life for students.
8:30 a.m. | Registration & welcome
9:00 a.m. | Keynote Panel: Engineering for the Final Frontier
9:45 a.m. | Interactive Session 1: Launch Principles in Action
10:45 a.m. | Facility Tour: Rockets, Launch Systems, and Satellites
11:30 a.m. | Lunch & networking
12:15 p.m. | Interactive Session 2: Mission Kit Engineering Challenge
1:15 p.m. | Debrief & Instructional Strategy Session
1:45 p.m. | Teaching Resources Hub
2:30 p.m. | Self-Guided Exploration of Space Center Houston
Commitment | Approx. 8 hours
Step into the role of a mission specialist in this collaborative professional development experience for educators. Centered on the International Space Station, this session blends project-based learning with simulation-based strategies to model how NASA missions succeed through teamwork and systems thinking.
Tour NASA’s Historic and Live Mission Control centers, hear from real mission experts, and participate in a hands-on mission simulation where teams solve problems in real time. Use VR headsets to explore the ISS virtually and learn how to implement immersive, role-driven learning experiences in your own classroom
8:30 a.m. | Registration & welcome
9:00 a.m. | Keynote: Systems and Teamwork in Space
9:45 a.m. | Facility Tour: Historic and Live Mission Control
10:45 a.m. | Interactive Session 1: Foundations of Simulation-Based Instruction
11:30 a.m. | Lunch & networking
12:15 p.m. | Interactive Session 2: Mission Simulation Challenge + VR ISS Experience
1:15 p.m. | Debrief & Instructional Strategy Session
1:45 p.m. | Teaching Resources Hub
2:30 p.m. | Self-Guided Exploration of Space Center Houston
Space Educators for Earth is a partnership between Space Center Houston and Blue Origin’s Club for the Future, to bring in-person and virtual opportunities to educators across the globe to learn how space benefits humanity. Educators can choose their path and engagement level from a multitude of offerings.
Educators may review, and duplicate lesson plans and curriculum materials related to NASA while visiting the Space Center Houston Educators Resource Center.
Explore a wide selection of NASA publications are available through NASA website for educators, many of which may be downloaded for free. Educators can use these materials to research a variety of space and science topics.
HOURS TODAY
Have them apply to Rise! Rise is a program that offers students access to scholarships, mentorship, networking and career development opportunities, fostering their ability to address pressing global challenges.
Rise Initiative is a partner of the Conrad Challenge at Space Center Houston.
The All-American Rejects are throwing Space Center Houston’s Moon 2 Mars Festival into hyperdrive. Amp up your Space City Spring Break with us!
Access to this all-ages festival is included in general admission.
Space Center Houston will close at 3 p.m. CT on Tuesday, April 29. Understand how this will impact your visit.
WEATHER ALERT
For the safety of our guests and staff, Space Center Houston is closed on Tuesday, January 21 and Wednesday, January 22 due to forecasted inclement weather.
We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to welcoming you soon! For questions or concerns, contact our Reservations team with your order number at 281.283.4755 or via email.