Connect STEM learning to career pathways this Lights On Afterschool

By Abigail Darlington, Director of Communications at STEM Next

Lights On Afterschool is the perfect moment to celebrate and uplift the role afterschool programs play in sparking interest in STEM and connecting youth to future careers. At STEM Next Opportunity Fund, we are celebrating Lights On by sharing free STEM resources that programs can use throughout October to engage youth and connect learning to real-world careers. These resources we’ve compiled make it easy to add STEM and career connections to your Lights On celebration. To access more resources like this throughout the year, visit our website at stemnext.org/resources.

Keeping the Beat Activity Bundle 

In this career-connected learning activity bundle created specifically by STEM Next for afterschool programs, youth will explore how the heart, blood, and circulatory system work—and how these systems are affected by gravity on Earth and in space. Throughout the three, one-hour activity sessions, youth apply science and engineering practices, use math to identify patterns, and learn about careers that support astronaut health and fitness. Adapted from NASA eClips, these lessons connect Earth and Space Learning with Health and Life Sciences. Grade range: 4th–8th

Learn How to Draw Artemis!

NASA’s Artemis program is preparing to return astronauts to the Moon and pave the way for future missions to Mars. Through this creative activity, youth can download and color detailed illustrations of the rockets, spacecraft, and systems that will make these missions possible. As they draw, participants learn about the engineering and innovation behind deep space exploration. Programs can display their creations or share them online using #DrawArtemis and #NASAatHome. Learn more and download: www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/learn-how-to-draw-artemis

Landing Humans on the Moon

Over half a century ago, on July 20, 1969, humans walked on the moon for the first time. Youth will take a look back at the history and legacy of our first small steps on the moon with this collection of activities, including videos to relive this amazing moment in our history. Grade range: 4th–8th

• Video of First Moon Landing and the Famous Words

• Making a Model: Mapping the Moon

• Forward to the Moon: Explorer Puzzles and Activities  

• Make an Astronaut Lander Design Challenge

My Moon Colony Design Challenge

Can we ever live on the moon? To make life on the moon possible, engineers must work together to imagine, design, create, and test advanced technologies to enable humans to inhabit the moon. Using the engineering design process, youth will brainstorm what people would need to live on the moon, design a fantastic moon colony, and decide how to power it. Youth will have an opportunity to investigate forms of energy and recognize the advanced technology that would be needed for humans to inhabit the moon and beyond. Grade range: 7th–8th

Spread the Word to Teens About the Mars Mission Challenge!

In this national STEM challenge led by Lockheed Martin, high school students take on the role of engineers and innovators to solve real-world problems of living and working on Mars. Youth teams will develop a proposal that addresses one of the critical challenges of sustaining human life on the Red Planet, from building habitats to supporting astronaut health and safety. Participants gain experience in research, design, and collaboration while exploring STEM career pathways in aerospace and engineering. Grade range: 9th–12th

Winning teams will receive professional mentorship, project funding, and the opportunity to present their ideas to an industry panel. One student team and educator will also earn a trip to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.

Proposal submissions due December 1, 2025, at 5 p.m. MT. Interested teams should submit the interest form here.

NASA Rocket Races Design Challenge

Few classroom topics generate as much excitement as rockets. In this educator guide, youth will have an opportunity to explore various facets of a rocket: its design, its power, and its ability. Youth will apply the scientific method to make predictions, collect and interpret data, and practice durable skills necessary for success in a STEM career. Grade range: 5th–8th

The Quest for the Crystal of Innovation

The Manufacturing Institute has developed The Quest for the Crystal of Innovation (Innovators Quest), a gamified experience for grades 4-9. This turnkey solution allows manufacturers to engage students in a fun, challenging, and age-appropriate way, either in classrooms or at community events like summer camps, expos, and Manufacturing Day on October 3.

The Innovators Quest helps students discover their strengths while encountering tasks that incorporate core manufacturing skills. The activities promote teamwork, communication, and problem-solving while introducing students to key concepts like additive manufacturing, aerospace engineering, electromechanical components, robotics, and quality control. Learn more about this tool and how you can sponsor a kit to use in your community here.