As you enjoy the summer, you may have questions about our sun that is still in its most active phase and sending off lots of storms. Have you ever wondered about what the sun is made of? Or why you get sunburned on even cloudy days?
NASA’s new tool kit Our Dynamic Sun brings the wonders of solar science to you, offering answers to these questions and more!
This resource — a collaboration between NASA’s Heliophysics Education Activation Team (NASA HEAT) and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific/Night Sky Network — was developed for informal educators, amateur astronomers, and astronomy enthusiasts alike, providing engaging activities for anyone eager to learn more about our nearest star.
A banner in the tool kit features our dynamic sun and its impact throughout our solar system. Left: Solar images from an H-alpha telescope and NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory show different details on the sun. Right: Auroras are observed on Earth by the International Space Station and on other planets by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope. (Credits: NASA)
Whether you’re hosting a solar viewing event or an indoor presentation, the Our Dynamic Sun tool kit provides easy-to-use materials designed to spark curiosity. Each of the 13 cards in the set pairs NASA images with clear explanations for each topic:
- “What color is the sun?” (hint: it’s not yellow!)
- “How does the sun affect us here on Earth?”
- “When will the sun die?”
If you have experienced a solar eclipse at your camp in 2023 or 2024, these cards will help your campers learn more about our closest star, the sun. These cards answer common questions the public may have while also highlighting how NASA’s solar research helps us understand space weather, solar storms, and their impacts on our daily lives. Some cards also have activities, such as “make a model” or “try this.”
Besides a banner and the cards, the tool kit also comes with a slide deck (Power Point and PDF) free for you to use and edit for educational purposes! Bring the sun’s story to your camps and inspire the next generation of explorers.
Free Download: Our Dynamic Sun Tool Kit
Additional NASA resources for your campers:
- Have eclipse glasses? Keep solar viewing safe and stylish
- Facts and activities for grades K-4 in English and Spanish
- NASA's Heliophysics Gallery
Carolyn Ng is an education specialist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center with the NASA Heliophysics Education Activation Team (NASA HEAT).
The views and opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Camp Association or ACA employees.
