In March 2020, when both National Air and Space Museum locations closed as a public health precaution due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Museum knew that it had an opportunity and a responsibility to support teachers with virtual instruction, parents leading their children in learning from home, and educators and caregivers alike just looking for new ways to engage learners.
The Museum recognized an opportunity to lean into digital-first programming by leveraging the inventory of education-focused videos created over the past few years as a foundational element. These resources include its successful STEM in 30 middle school webcast series. With necessary video production capability in hand, as a response to the pandemic, the Museum adapted many of its existing in-person educational programs into video programs and created new opportunities for engagement.
Air and Space Live Chats
Join Captain Jim Lovell, Commander of Apollo 13 and National Air and Space Museum curator Dr. Teasel Muir-Harmony for a discussion about Apollo 13. This live chat was recorded on April 16th, 2020. This was during the 50th anniversary of the flight of Apollo 13.
Unable to talk with visitors and answer their questions in person, it was a priority for the Museum to develop a program where its team members could connect live with students and families across the country and the world and engage with them in real time.
On March 19, the Museum hosted its first Air and Space Live Chat on Facebook Live, and continued to facilitate at least one per week for 20 straight weeks. In September, this program transitioned to twice per month. The Museum hosted 39 total live chats in 2020, introducing its viewers to the experiences and insights of nearly 75 guests. Each live chat received hundreds of comments and questions, and viewers included classrooms, parents, and caregivers with their children, as well as other interested aviation and space fans. The live chats received repeat viewers, with many people tuning in each week to learn something new. In total, 2020 live chats received nearly 65,000 views. Archived live chats can be watched on YouTube.
Flights of Fancy
Gather your little ones for story time with the National Air and Space Museum. Museum educator Ann Caspari will read an original story about the pioneering pilot Bessie Coleman, with sketches by museum educator Diane Kidd. After the story, Ann will lead us in a craft activity to make biplane models using paper towel tubes, paper, and tape.
Flights of Fancy Storytime is made possible through the generous support of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
After the pandemic closed both Museum locations, its popular early childhood program Flights of Fancy went virtual with Flights of Fancy Storytime Online. While the in-person program involved reading published children’s books, due to copyright considerations, the team had to get creative.
Each installment of Flights of Fancy Online features an original story written by Museum educator Ann Caspari and illustrated by Museum educator Diane Kidd (who previously illustrated the Museum’s children’s book Pluto’s Secret). Each installment also features a craft activity, using materials found in most homes, that parents and caregivers can do with their children on their own. Between May 19 and August 4, the Museum published a new story time video every Tuesday at 11 am. Starting in October 2020, Flights of Fancy Online shifted to once a month.
In total, the Early Childhood Team created 13 Flights of Fancy Online videos in 2020, featuring 11 original stories. 2020 Flights of Fancy Online videos have received over 40,000 views to date. Flights of Fancy Online can be watched any time on YouTube.
Flights of Fancy is sponsored by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
Soar Together @ Air and Space
Combining activities like scavenger hunts with our rich video content, the Museum took its regular in-person family days online. Each month these programs take on a different theme celebrating air and space. Soar Together days let families imagine their own futures by sharing in the stories of innovators and explorers from diverse backgrounds who challenged conventions and changed the world. Soar Together @ Air and Space is sponsored by Northrop Grumman.
Virtual Mars Day
In July 2020, the Museum took its annual Mars Day program virtual to celebrate the launch of Mars rover Perseverance and continue this popular annual program. Video played an important part in the virtual Mars Day programming, including a live chat with NASA engineers Kobie Boykins and Christina Hernández, videos featuring student reporter Jaden Jefferson interviewing NASA leaders and the student who named the Perseverance rover, and an episode of the Museum and NASA’s E.Z. Science series with director Ellen Stofan and NASA’s Thomas Zurbuchen. Over the three-day event, Mars Day videos received over 32,000 views on YouTube and 25,000 views on Facebook.
- 1.1.2: Create and share high-quality education content aligned with nationally recognized education priorities
- 1.4: Develop and implement a robust media/audiovisual support program providing best in class support to in-person and online learning events
- 2.4: Collaborate to develop authentic and meaningful digital learning experiences rooted in our one-of-a-kind collections for PreK-12 and adult audiences
- 2.4.1: Leverage the Museum’s research and collections as the foundational elements in accessible, engaging, and inspiring on-site and digital experiences
- 2.4.2: Use the transformative power of accurate and inclusive storytelling to ignite challenging educational discussions
In March 2020, when both National Air and Space Museum locations closed as a public health precaution due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Museum knew that it had an opportunity and a responsibility to support teachers with virtual instruction, parents leading their children in learning from home, and educators and caregivers alike just looking for new ways to engage learners.
The Museum recognized an opportunity to lean into digital-first programming by leveraging the inventory of education-focused videos created over the past few years as a foundational element. These resources include its successful STEM in 30 middle school webcast series. With necessary video production capability in hand, as a response to the pandemic, the Museum adapted many of its existing in-person educational programs into video programs and created new opportunities for engagement.
Air and Space Live Chats
Join Captain Jim Lovell, Commander of Apollo 13 and National Air and Space Museum curator Dr. Teasel Muir-Harmony for a discussion about Apollo 13. This live chat was recorded on April 16th, 2020. This was during the 50th anniversary of the flight of Apollo 13.
Unable to talk with visitors and answer their questions in person, it was a priority for the Museum to develop a program where its team members could connect live with students and families across the country and the world and engage with them in real time.
On March 19, the Museum hosted its first Air and Space Live Chat on Facebook Live, and continued to facilitate at least one per week for 20 straight weeks. In September, this program transitioned to twice per month. The Museum hosted 39 total live chats in 2020, introducing its viewers to the experiences and insights of nearly 75 guests. Each live chat received hundreds of comments and questions, and viewers included classrooms, parents, and caregivers with their children, as well as other interested aviation and space fans. The live chats received repeat viewers, with many people tuning in each week to learn something new. In total, 2020 live chats received nearly 65,000 views. Archived live chats can be watched on YouTube.
Flights of Fancy
Gather your little ones for story time with the National Air and Space Museum. Museum educator Ann Caspari will read an original story about the pioneering pilot Bessie Coleman, with sketches by museum educator Diane Kidd. After the story, Ann will lead us in a craft activity to make biplane models using paper towel tubes, paper, and tape.
Flights of Fancy Storytime is made possible through the generous support of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
After the pandemic closed both Museum locations, its popular early childhood program Flights of Fancy went virtual with Flights of Fancy Storytime Online. While the in-person program involved reading published children’s books, due to copyright considerations, the team had to get creative.
Each installment of Flights of Fancy Online features an original story written by Museum educator Ann Caspari and illustrated by Museum educator Diane Kidd (who previously illustrated the Museum’s children’s book Pluto’s Secret). Each installment also features a craft activity, using materials found in most homes, that parents and caregivers can do with their children on their own. Between May 19 and August 4, the Museum published a new story time video every Tuesday at 11 am. Starting in October 2020, Flights of Fancy Online shifted to once a month.
In total, the Early Childhood Team created 13 Flights of Fancy Online videos in 2020, featuring 11 original stories. 2020 Flights of Fancy Online videos have received over 40,000 views to date. Flights of Fancy Online can be watched any time on YouTube.
Flights of Fancy is sponsored by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
Soar Together @ Air and Space
Combining activities like scavenger hunts with our rich video content, the Museum took its regular in-person family days online. Each month these programs take on a different theme celebrating air and space. Soar Together days let families imagine their own futures by sharing in the stories of innovators and explorers from diverse backgrounds who challenged conventions and changed the world. Soar Together @ Air and Space is sponsored by Northrop Grumman.
Virtual Mars Day
In July 2020, the Museum took its annual Mars Day program virtual to celebrate the launch of Mars rover Perseverance and continue this popular annual program. Video played an important part in the virtual Mars Day programming, including a live chat with NASA engineers Kobie Boykins and Christina Hernández, videos featuring student reporter Jaden Jefferson interviewing NASA leaders and the student who named the Perseverance rover, and an episode of the Museum and NASA’s E.Z. Science series with director Ellen Stofan and NASA’s Thomas Zurbuchen. Over the three-day event, Mars Day videos received over 32,000 views on YouTube and 25,000 views on Facebook.
- 1.1.2: Create and share high-quality education content aligned with nationally recognized education priorities
- 1.4: Develop and implement a robust media/audiovisual support program providing best in class support to in-person and online learning events
- 2.4: Collaborate to develop authentic and meaningful digital learning experiences rooted in our one-of-a-kind collections for PreK-12 and adult audiences
- 2.4.1: Leverage the Museum’s research and collections as the foundational elements in accessible, engaging, and inspiring on-site and digital experiences
- 2.4.2: Use the transformative power of accurate and inclusive storytelling to ignite challenging educational discussions