- Starting in Elementary School
Getting kids excited about space and science, early
We bring together companies, schools, and community groups to teach young kids aboutspace through fun stories, so they build confidence in science and math skills while they’restill curious about everything.
A Message from Our Founder
“I run a space company, and finding and keeping skilled workers is one of our biggestchallenges — and it’s only going to get harder. The more I looked into why, the more Irealized we weren’t reaching kids early enough. By the time they’re in early elementaryschool, a lot of kids have already decided they’re either ‘good at science’ or ‘not good atscience.’ That’s why we start with kids in kindergarten through 3rd grade, while they’re stillnaturally curious and open to anything. If we want the next generation excited about spacecareers, we have to start now.”
— Danielle Storan
Kids Don't Lose Interest in Science Overnight
It happens gradually, starting young. By middle school, many kids have already decidedwhat they think they’re bad at.
- Interest in science and math starts dropping off before middle school
- The space and tech industries are expected to face major worker shortages by 2030
- Reaching kids early makes a real difference
Turning Today's Kids Into Tomorrow's Scientists and Engineers
We’re building a program that can grow, aiming to:
- Reach more than 100 schools as a starting point
- Reach thousands of students
- Grow nationwide with the help of strong partners
The plan is simple: start early, stick with it, and build a steady pipeline of future talent.
How You Can Help
We're looking for partners in a few different ways:
Founding
Sponsors
Early backers who help get the program off the ground
Company
Workforce
Partners
Businesses that get their employees involved
Education & Community Partners
Schools and local organizations
Program Underwriters
Funders who help cover program costs
What partners get
Supporting this program isn’t just a donation — it helps build the future workforce, and you get:
- A say in which schools take part (including schools on military bases)
- Ways to get your employees involved in meaningful volunteer work
- Your name featured in the books and program materials
- Mentions in media coverage of the program
- Discounted books you can hand out at events, to employees, or to customers
- Chances to team up with other companies and organizations in the space and defenseworld
What Kids Actually Learn
The curriculum is built around six basic ideas, taught at a level that grows with each grade:
What space is and
why it matters
What we use
space for
How space
systems work
Staying safe
in space
Doing the
right thing
What's next
for space
FREE RESOURCES
Everything is ready to use — no extra prep needed:
Lift Off Kids provides ready-to-use resources for schools and partners:
Story-based books Written for kids in kindergarten through 3rd grade
Corresponding activity sheets for kids
Vocabulary and discussion guides that also help with social and emotional learning
Classroom projects for teachers to demonstrate scientific principles
