Explore Your Space and Ours
Soar Together at Air and Space is a monthly family program from the National Air and Space Museum. Through live events and interactive activities you can do anytime, your family will explore a different air and space topic every month.
Check out our favorite and most popular videos and activities!
Anytime Activities
On the go and only have a few minutes to spare? Check out:
Have more time and want to diver deeper? Check out:
Origami Balloons (ages 8+)
Learn how to fold a piece of paper into a balloon and discover the history of ballooning in Asia. Go to the Origami Balloons Activity.
Small origami balloons made of paper.
For more like this, check out our Soar Together @ Air and Space family program on Balloons.
Make a Sun Tracker (ages 8+)
Follow the movement of the Sun from wherever you are with this homemade sundial. Learn how.
Shadow Sculpture (ages 4+)
People around the world have made sculptures that cast interesting shadows to celebrate the Solstice, but you can try making a shadow sculpture any day — all you need is some sun! Learn how to make a shadow sculpture.
Build a shadow sculpture out of household items: https://sites.google.com/si.edu/soar-together-air-and-space
Design Your Own Mission Patch (all ages)
What's the meaning behind those patches that astronauts wear? Astronaut Paul Richards has the answer. Learn more and design your own mission patch.
Dancing the Milky Way
Discover how you can turn data collected from space, usually viewed as colors in an image, into sound and body movement! Scientist Kim Arcand from the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian and dance artist Kylie Murray from Local Motion Project join up to get you out of your seat exploring the stars, dust clouds, and the energy of the Milky Way! This webinar was produced in collaboration with the National Museum of Natural History.
My Path Videos
How Did They Get There? Our My Path video series lets you hear from astronauts, pilots, engineers, and many other people who work in aerospace! Check out the full playlist or watch one of these top choice My Path videos below.
Want to Be an Engineer? Hear from NASA engineer Bo Naasz on who inspired him to take up engineering and what he likes about working for NASA. As an aerospace engineer, he works on multiple missions, including one that will land a rover on an asteroid! Watch below or on YouTube.
Ever wonder what it takes to become an engineer and design spacecraft for NASA? Bo Naasz shares his path to success in this short segment brought to you by STEM in 30.
Can You Be a Pilot on TV? Ariel Tweto says yes! As a pilot on Discovery Channel’s Flying Wild Alaska, explorer and Alaska native Ariel Tweto turned her childhood working on her dad’s airplane in a remote village into a career as a pilot and TV presenter! Watch an interview with her below or on YouTube.
Pilot and TV Personality Ariel Tweto shares advice on the importance of seeking out new experiences through traveling, working hard, and meeting people of different backgrounds. You can see her in the new IMAX Movie: Into America's Wild
How to Spot the International Space Station (ages 10+)
Learn how to spot the International Space Station from wherever you are and then check out NASA's Spot the Station website to find out the next opportunity to see it!
For more like this, check out our Soar Together @ Air and Space family program on the International Space Station.
Flights of Fancy Story Time (ages 3-6)
In this recording, museum curator Margaret Weitekamp reads aloud the book she wrote with curator emeritus David DeVorkin and educator Diane Kidd titled “Pluto’s Secret.” At the end, educator Ann Caspari shows you how to paint with ice cubes.
Soar Together @ Air and Space is made possible by the generous support of Northrop Grumman.
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