RESOURCES

Text over space image: Engineers make bridges. Artists make paintings. Scientists make rockets. But teachers make them all.

Welcome to your mission control center!

Your source for everything you need to successfully navigate through the Reading Challenge.

Reading Challenge Theme Song

They say every great journey begins with a single step. We say every great journey begins with a single BOOK and a catchy theme song!

Downloadables

RECOMMENDED READING LISTS

Teacher & Class Participation

Inspire a new generation of critical thinkers and innovators by having your class join us on this amazing S.T.E.A.M. reading adventure.

Open book with a rocket blasting out and a collage of S.T.E.A.M. related items.

Interested in getting updates and reminders?

SIGN UP TODAY

How can a class participate?

  • Students will need to create their own Beanstack account and sign up for the Reading Challenge where they will log reading, earn virtual badges, and submit tickets to bonuses.
  • There are also several resources available to teachers:
  • Recommended S.T.E.A.M. reading lists 
  • Reading Challenge theme song
  • S.T.E.A.M. focused activities
  • Educational videos from previous authors on YouTube

What email address should be used?

  • Students can sign up with their own email account, personal or school, or a parent’s email. 
  • If a school email account is used, we highly recommend including a phone number 
  • SUGGESTION: Reach out to your district’s IT Dept to whitelist steamracetospace@gmail.com so students don’t miss out on receiving notifications.

Can a teacher sign up their class for the Reading Challenge?

  • Yes, a teacher can sign up their entire class for the reading challenge by creating a Beanstack family account. 
  • We do NOT recommend this option as it requires the teacher to individually log the reading for each student and prevents the students from seeing and submitting tickets to bonuses.

Classroom Rewards

Teachers, we’re so excited to be able to offer special bonus rewards for your entire class!

MARS Portable Planetarium show

A free 45-minute planetarium show for up to 30 kids.

30 Second Dance & pizza party

Dance Party buttons, prize packs, and pizza gift card.

Sponsored by 30 Second Dance Party.

Teachers of the winning classrooms will be notified and will receive an invitation to the S.T.E.A.M. Reading Challenge Splash-Down Celebration.

Librarian Support

"Librarians have always been among the most thoughtful and helpful people. They are teachers without a classroom. No libraries, no progress."

—Willard Scott

Your encouragement of the Reading Challenge opens the doors to many possibilities. Here are some simple ways to help:

  • Assist students in finding STEM-focused literacy books
  • Take advantage of marketing materials
  • Create engaging STEM thematic displays
  • Help students find us on Beanstack
  • Follow us on Social Media

Ready to show your support?

Sign up for Librarian Email Updates.

Helpful Tips on Beanstack

Beanstack is the name of the web-based reader tracking platform where students create an account to register for the Reading Challenge, record their reading activity, and earn tickets for bonus drawings.

OR

Download the Beanstack app for your mobile device.

  • How do I find the Reading Challenge on the Beanstack mobile app?

    Launch the Beanstack mobile app.


    Select Find your school or library.


    Search readsteam.


    Select S.T.E.A.M. Race to Space Reading Challenge.

  • Can students use their school email address to register?

    Yes, students may use their school email address, but you must make sure your school IT administrator allows emails from steamracetospace@gmail.com. 


    Otherwise, students may miss out on notification of winning and forfeit their prize. 

  • How do I log my reading?

    WEBSITE

    Log into your Beanstack account. 


    In the upper left corner, click the Log Reading button and select a log type (Log Minutes or Log Pages, depending on your reading category). 


    On the calendar, select the day you need to record your reading and fill in the fields.


    When you're done, click the Log Reading button.


    MOBILE APP

    Log into your Beanstack account. 


    Tap the blue add button at the bottom of the screen.


    Select Reading.


    Enter a book title or tap Log Without a Title.


    Select the day you need to record your reading. (Tap Change to change the date.)


    Fill in the minutes or pages, depending on your reading category.


    Tap Done.

  • How do I get my bonuses?

    Bonuses can only be redeemed through a Beanstack account. 


    After you complete the base goal, you will earn 5 virtual tickets. You will earn 3 more virtual tickets for every bonus goal completed. 


    Final day to submit virtual tickets is October 25, 2025. 


    Rewards Packages will be sent to participants' schools.


    Bonus winners will receive an email notifying them of how to collect their bonus. 

  • How do I redeem virtual tickets?

    Log into your Beanstack account. 


    Choose Ticket Drawings then select a bonus. 


    You will see the number of tickets you have available. 


    Choose how many of those tickets you want to add to the bonus drawing. 


    You can submit tickets to as many bonuses as you’d like. All tickets must be submitted to a drawing by October 25, 2025.

Learning Launchpad

Educator Resources

Ideas for linking STEM thinking with language arts.

Grab-and-Go Water Activities

Explore, discover, and learn about the importance of water with these free, self-guided water activities for students.

Educational videos from Space Camp

This digital collection of short learning segments features Rocket Center educators leading hands-on activities, talking with STEM professionals, and exploring STEM concepts and ideas.

She Blinded Me with SCIENCE! activity guide

This 18-page guide, featuring four inspiring women authors, is filled with practical classroom activities. 

Solve It! for Kids Podcast

Peek into the world of real-life scientists, engineers, and experts as they solve problems in their everyday jobs. Kids and families are then invited to take on a challenge and solve a problem themselves!

Stuff for Schools

Author and illustrator Christina Booth provides a resource page for teachers.

Sea Lions teacher guide

This teacher guide includes discussion questions, curriculum connections, and extra credit work.

Free study materials from author Gabrielle Prendergast

Find lots of free resources under the Study Material tab.

Interactive virtual tour of NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

FUTURE U.

Hands-on learning experiences help students in grades 6–12 embrace their potential to make an impact and innovate for the future.

Visit the FUTURE U website.

Story Time from Space

Astronauts on the Space Station read stories to and conduct science experiments for the children of Earth as the world rotates below.

Abrams Books Teaching Guides

Access teaching guides for fiction and nonfiction Picture, Chapter, Middle Grade, and Young Adult books including graphic novels.

Stars in the Kitchen

Students team up with celebrity chefs to explore the science and math behind cooking while making tasty, hands-on creations. It’s a fun way to blend STEM learning with real-world skills in the kitchen!