Camp COVID: This Week in STEM April 13 (Astronauts, Meteors, and Back Holes! Oh MY!)

View of Earth from Moon

Credit: NASA

Happy Week in STEM, Friends!

Here’s my weekly trick for letting the scientists, astronauts, and researchers carry some of the Camp COVID load this week! From astronaut talk backs to story time to meteor showers, this is a great week in STEM to excite minds of all ages. Plus, dinner table talk. Four topics to bring up at the dinner table. Easy peasy! 

Here’s your schedule (and remember anything involving real live science (especially space) can have unforeseen delays):

MONDAY, APRIL 13TH:

1:20 p.m. EST: LIVE talk back with Maine’s astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Cassidy aboard the International Space Station. They will be talking to Maine students today but everyone can listen in on the LIVE feed.

4p.m. EST Story time with NASA Astronaut Christina Hamilton Koch on her Instagram feed @asto-christina

TUESDAY, APRIL 14TH:

All Day, Any Day – Explore Earthquakes patterns using scientists’ data throughout the National Science Foundation!

4p.m. EST Story time with NASA Astronaut Christina Hamilton Koch on her Instagram feed @asto-christina

Midnight EST – Sunrise: Lyrid Meteor shower. I know you are wondering if I am crazy to think of waking up the kids to see a meteor shower. The answer is yes! And you should, too. Grab some puffy coats and warm blankets and peek outside if you can! It can be such a special experience to share together. To spot them, focus your eyes on the Lyra constellation. We use the app Skyview. Also if your weather isn’t awesome, this meteor shower will continue to excite through next week!

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15TH: 

4p.m. EST  Story time with NASA Astronaut Christina Hamilton Koch on her Instagram feed @asto-christina

THURSDAY, APRIL 16TH:

6:00 p.m EST Jessica Meir’s journey back to Earth with fellow astronauts begins with closing of the hatch of their spacecraft, Soyuz MS-15. It will undock from the ISS at 9:30 p.m. EST

4p.m. Story time with NASA Astronaut Christina Hamilton Koch on her Instagram feed @asto-christina

FRIDAY, APRIL 17TH:

4p.m. EST Story time with NASA Astronaut Christina Hamilton Koch on her Instagram feed @asto-christina

MIDNIGHT EST: Coverage of Soyuz landing in Kazakhstan begins for all of us night owls!

DINNER TABLE TALK: LAST BUT NOT LEAST! This week’s dinner table talk:

Have a great week,

Anna

P.S. TOMORROW, my debut picture book RESCUING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE goes on sale. I can’t think of a better moment to introduce you to a brave hero who courageously saved the words that built America. I am talking about the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and more. This man’s TRUE and long forgotten actions inspired me to be brave during a tough time in my life and I hope they’ll inspire you! You can pre-order now. All pre-orders through PRINT: A Bookstore will be entered to win a signed bundle of all four of my books!

Rescuing the Declaration of Independence: How We Almost Lost the Words that Built America