World Space Week 2025: Inspiring curiosity about life beyond Earth

From 4–10 October 2025, educators, scientists, and communities around the world will join together to mark World Space Week, the nationally declared celebration of science, technology, and the benefits of space exploration.

The 2025 theme “Living in Space” highlights the importance of sustainable practices in space exploration and habitation .

For early childhood education and care (ECEC) services, World Space Week is an opportunity to spark curiosity, foster inquiry-based learning, and explore children’s natural fascination with the sky, stars, and planets. It aligns strongly with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) outcomes, particularly:

• Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world.
• Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners.

Through stories, play, and creative experiences, educators can nurture STEM foundations while also encouraging big-picture thinking about sustainability, community, and the future of our planet.

The World Space Week Association provides ideas and resources for events and activities, many of which can be adapted to early learning contexts. Suggestions include:

• Star-gazing nights with families and local community groups.
• Art projects exploring life in space, what would children take with them to another planet?
• Storytelling and role play, where children imagine being astronauts, scientists, or engineers.
• STEM provocations, such as building rockets with recycled materials or exploring gravity through play.

World Space Week is recognised as the largest annual space event in the world, with thousands of events registered across more than 90 countries. In 2025, it will continue to focus on how the challenges of living in space connect with issues on Earth from sustainability to innovation in science and technology.

Educators and services can add their events to the global World Space Week calendar, joining a worldwide movement of learners and explorers.

By embedding World Space Week activities into practice, ECEC services can inspire children’s curiosity and sense of wonder while also modelling global citizenship and environmental awareness. Whether through small classroom activities or larger community events, the week is an opportunity to explore how we live today and how humanity may live in space tomorrow.

For resources and more information, visit the World Space Week website.