Hoping to enhance the future U.S. scientific work force, NASA has launched Noticiencias NASA™, a new program under the agency’s Hispanic Education Initiative.

Designed for students in grades K-5, Noticiencias NASA™, is a Spanish-language, research-inquiry, standards-based, and technology-focused educational program. Noticiencias NASA™ uses the Internet, animation and video. It will introduce a rising population of young Hispanics to the world of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, NASA missions and research.

Noticiencias NASA™ features Hispanic students explaining science, technology, engineering, mathematics and NASA facts to other children in an entertaining and instructional format. The one-minute video programs explain everyday phenomena, correct misconceptions, and answer frequently asked questions about the Earth and space. The program also uses animated characters (for grades K-2). The coordinating Web site offers detailed written explanations, hands-on activities, resources and computer-graded quizzes.

Topics range from, "Why do astronauts float in space?" and "Did you know NASA’s Odyssey spacecraft found water ice under the surface of Mars?" to "What is nanotechnology?" and "How does the Internet work?"

Noticiencias NASA™ is sponsored by NASA’s Office of Biology & Physical Research (OBPR) and produced by LaRC for Distance Learning.

Noticiencias NASA™ multimedia series Web site (in Spanish, similar to NASA’s Kids Science News Network featuring Hispanic students) may be found at the following URL: http://ksnnsp.larc.nasa.gov

28 New Topics Added To NASA’s Kids Science News Network

NASA’s Kids Science News Network™ — the English equivalent to Noticiencias NASA™ with all the same features for grades K-5 — has introduced 28 new topics on science, technology, engineering, mathematics and NASA missions and research. Their Web site may be found at the following URL: http://ksnn.larc.nasa.gov

LaRC for Distance Learning produces five award-winning, educational programs in English and Spanish:

NASA’s Kids Science News Network™ multimedia series (in English):
http://ksnn.larc.nasa.gov

NASA SCI Files™
http://scifiles.larc.nasa.gov/treehouse.html

NASA CONNECT™
http://connect.larc.nasa.gov

NASA LIVE™
http://live.larc.nasa.gov

NASA’s Destination Tomorrow™
http://destination.larc.nasa.gov

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NASA Web sites in Spanish:
http://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/En_Espanol.html

NASA education programs Web site:
http://education.nasa.gov

NASA’s main Web site:
http://www.nasa.gov