The Andy Thomas Space Foundation (ATSF) and Makers Empire are delighted to invite Australia primary schools to register their interest in participating in ATSF’s Kids in Space 2025.
Andy Thomas Space Foundation’s Kids in Space, delivered by Makers Empire, is a sponsored space education program for each Australian state and territory that offers industry links and real-world learning opportunities. Now in its third year, Kids in Space is designed to encourage younger students to engage with the nation’s growing space ecosystem, introduce them to space technology and different jobs within the space industry and spark their interest in a space career.
The Andy Thomas Space Foundation’s Kids in Space 2024, delivered by Makers Empire, is supported by the Australian Space Agency. It is currently impacting 16,000 students, hundreds of teachers and 110+ schools across Australia. Check out the highlights from the student showcases and state/territory finals.
The Kids in Space 2024 schools comprise government, independent and Catholic schools in metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas. 49% of schools are located in regional, rural and remote areas and 44% of schools are schools with a value below 1000 on the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA).
Grateful thanks our valued partners who helped make 2024 our biggest year so far: Northern Territory’s Department of Education, iLAuNCH Trailblazer, Victorian Department of Education, Catholic Education South Australia, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, and the Milner Road Foundation.
At the showcase days held in each state or territory, a team from one of the schools will be selected as the state or territory winner. This winning team (limited to 1-2 teachers + 6-8 students) will be flown to Adelaide, SA, for the national showcase at the Australian Space Discovery Centre.
“The innovation projects have offered our students real-life opportunities to apply design thinking strategies and understand the importance of prototyping. The Kids in Space project professional development was enjoyable, inspiring, outstanding, interesting and hands-on. It’s meant that we can take our pedagogies to the next level and stretch our students’ learning to outer space (excuse the pun). Makers Empire’s passion for innovative learning experiences is contagious.”
“The Makers Empire – Andy Thomas Foundation Kids in Space Project was a comprehensive learning experience for both staff and students. Firstly building teachers’ knowledge with quality PD on space and Makers Empire enabled teachers to confidently teach the students. The students were highly engaged in the learning, empowered to problem solve and be creative to solve space issues whilst developing their skills on Makers Empire. The showcase event with other schools around the state was a highlight. I would highly recommend this project for schools to participate in.”
“Makers Empire provides so much more than a great app but resources and connections to curriculum, industry and innovation in our society.”
“The Kids in Space Makers Empire Project allowed our children to collaborate whilst working in teams. It encouraged them to test, problem solve, and retest and as a result built children’s resilience.”
“Participation in the project is a learning experience not to be missed. Your students will learn from you and you will learn from them. Collaboration, communication, creativity and problem-solving skills will be enhanced as you progress through the design thinking process with space in mind.”
“I loved seeing the ‘out of the box thinking’ by our students & how they worked together to find solutions to their problems. This was the first time that our school had been involved in this project, so it was a wonderfully exciting and uncharted experience. In hosting the showcase – I loved seeing how beautifully our students represented Essington. I could not have been prouder of their engagement in the project, both throughout the term and at the showcase.”
We can accommodate 2-5 teachers per school (more by negotiation) for the professional development days. We can accommodate unlimited classes and students in a school to do the Kids in Space program. We can accommodate 4-6 students per class and an accompanying teacher for the showcase days.
The Kids in Space program has been designed for grades 3-6 students. If you would like to do Kids in Space with other grade levels please email us at info@makersempire.com with the subject ‘Kids in Space grade inquiry’ and we will see what we can do.
Yes, absolutely! If your school is chosen for Kids in Space, you will receive all of the benefits on top of your existing Makers Empire subscription: your Makers Empire subscription will simply be extended for another year.
Sure! We have had many smaller, regional and area schools participate in our programs before. We encourage all interested schools to apply.
Yes, selected schools are required to participate in all activities. We received almost 700 expressions of interest from schools for 110+ spots in 2024. Kids in Space is made possible because of the support of partners and sponsors.
Yes, definitely. Not being selected for a previous program is no reflection on your school. There are many factors that we consider when choosing schools, including available funding for your state/territory. This program is always extremely competitive, too, so please do apply!
Yes, definitely. We are looking at doing an alumni program for schools that have previously participated in Kids in Space.
Expressions of interest close 15 November 2024 for the 2025 Kids in Space Program, however, we encourage you to apply as early as possible to assist with our planning.
Please wait while you are redirected to the right page...