The Framework for Heliophysics Education

The Framework for Heliophysics Education is a structured guide aimed at enhancing education and public engagement with the field of heliophysics.

The Framework for Heliophysics Education outlines key concepts, practices, and strategies for integrating heliophysics into educational curricula, outreach activities, and informal learning environments. It provides educators, scientists, and outreach professionals with a cohesive set of Heliophysics Big Ideas that align with NASA's heliophysics research and broader educational initiatives. Each Heliophyiscs Big Idea has guiding questions for each level of learner, designed to support inquiry-based learning

Navigating the Framework for Heliophysics Education
1. Select a Heliophysics Big Idea you want to explore with your learners (below)
2. Select your level of learner (Introductory/Intermediate/Advanced)
3. Use the background information provided to aid in teaching heliophysics concepts at the appropriate level (cited NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas for Formal Educators)
4. Use the guiding question to excite learners and encourage curiosity and investigation
5. Choose a resource to engage your audience in learning activities
6. Find even more learning resources in the database with filtering by level, topic, type of activity, NGSS, mission, etc.

Start exploring the Heliophysics Big Ideas below to find age-appropriate activities and resources for your learners! Or go directly to searching our Resource Database.

Resource Database
A five step process to navigate a website
Navigating the Framework for Heliophysics Education
NASA HEAT

What is Heliophysics?

Heliophysics is the study of our star, the Sun [helio], and how its behavior [physics] affects Earth, the solar system, and the very nature of space.

The Science Mission Directorate Heliophysics Division studies the nature of the Sun, and how it influences the very nature of space – and, in turn, the atmospheres of planets and the technology that exists there. Space is not, as is often believed, completely empty; instead, we live in the extended atmosphere of an active star. Our Sun sends out a steady outpouring of particles and energy – the solar wind – as well as a constantly writhing magnetic system. This extensive, dynamic solar atmosphere surrounds the Sun, Earth, the planets, and extends far out into the solar system.

Learn More About NASA Heliophysics
An artist's illustration of events on the sun changing the conditions in Near-Earth space.
NASA

Why Teach Heliophysics?

Everyone has a connection to the Sun!                   

The Sun can provide a fun and exciting laboratory for exploring magnetism, gravity, light, energy, and much more! Learning about the Sun and its influence on the solar system can help scientists understand how the universe began, how stars and planets are formed, and how life can exist on Earth. Studying this system not only helps us understand fundamental information about how the universe works, but also helps protect our technology and astronauts in space. NASA seeks knowledge of near-Earth space, because – when extreme – space weather can interfere with our communications, satellites and power grids.

“Heliophysics education activation” is a need because [1] heliophysics is a relatively new discipline of science, so therefore [2] people are unfamiliar with the term and [3] many educators may feel intimidated by the term. The term is also not mentioned in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the heliosphere is not included in models of Earth’s systems.

Learn More About Heliophysics Topics
A visualization showing some of the effects the Sun's activity can have on technology and infrastructure. At top of the image, an orange sun in space shows active flares. Energetic electrons are shown damaging spacecraft electronics orbiting Earth. Solar flare protons are also shown damaging orbiting spacecraft electronics, but also causing radiation effects on avionics and communications and GPS signal scintillation. On land, enlarged power lines represent geomagnetically induced currents in power systems. In water, enlarged images of a submarine and offshore pipeline facility represent induced effects in submarine cables and telluric currents in pipelines, respectively.
Modern society depends on a variety of technologies that are susceptible to the extremes of space weather. This graphic shows some of the technology and infrastructure affected by space weather events.
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Heliophysics Topics

Heliophysics topics are naturally interdisciplinary and offer an engaging way to explore Earth science concepts, as well as demonstrate the fundamentals of physical and life sciences. 

From the core of the Sun, where nuclear fusion reactions create its energy, to auroral displays in Earth’s atmosphere, heliophysics topics span beyond solar science. Popular heliophysics topics include: aurora, coronal mass ejection, solar flare, geomagnetic storm, magnetic reconnection, solar eclipse, solar wind, space weather, and sunspot.

Learn More About Heliophysics Topics
This coronal mass ejection (CME) erupted into space on August 31, 2012, traveling over 900 miles per second. It connected with Earth’s magnetic field with a glancing blow. For more CME visualizations, visit the Goddard Media Studios.
This coronal mass ejection (CME) erupted into space on August 31, 2012, traveling over 900 miles per second. It connected with Earth’s magnetic field with a glancing blow. For more CME visualizations, visit the Goddard Media Studios.
Goddard Media Studios

Heliophysics Missions

The NASA Heliophysics Systems Observatory works with other NASA systems observatories to give NASA a complete picture of the Sun-Earth System.

By studying the Sun and other objects in the solar system, scientists can learn more about other stars and planetary systems. In turn, learning about other stars can teach us about the origin of our solar system and the origin of life on Earth. NASA’s heliophysics mission fleet spans the entire heliosphere. From the Voyager Mission, which crossed the heliosphere boundary, and is the only human-made object to leave the heliosphere; to Parker Solar Probe, which will fly into the atmosphere of the Sun, and will be the closest human-made object to ever "touch the Sun."

Learn More About Heliophysics Missions
The Sun on the left, with several missions throughout the solar system on the right. A list of heliophysics missions is at the top.
Chart showing the spacecraft in orbit that support the Heliophysics Division.
NASA

Heliophysics and the NGSS

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) were created by the National Research Council's (NRC) framework for K-12 Science Education and drive the science curricula in forty-four states.

Using the three main questions that heliophysicists investigate as the foundation the Framework for Heliophysics Education cross-references heliophysics topics with NGSS disciplinary core ideas to allow classroom teachers to easily infuse heliophysics concepts into existing Earth, physical, and life science curricula. The NGSS also serves as a research-based guide for what students can learn at each level which can be used by informal educators, communicators, and outreach specialists to plan age-appropriate activities for events.

Start exploring the Heliophysics Big Ideas below to find age-appropriate activities and resources for your learners! Or go directly to searching our Resource Database and filter by NGSS performance expectation.

Resource Database
A small portion of a sepia toned sun with bright white streamers erupting from the surface and the Next Generation Science Standards logo in orange, green and blue in the middle
The Framework for Heliophysics Education makes connections between heliophysics concepts and the disciplinary core ideas outlined by the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
NASA/SDO

Heliophysics Big Ideas

1. What are the impacts of the changing Sun on humanity?

An image of the Sun shows a bright flash in the bottom right side where a solar flare erupts.

1.1 The Sun is really big and its gravity influences all objects in the solar system.

Topics: lunar eclipse, lunar phases, Newton's Law of Gravity, seasons, solar eclipse, solar system, transits

The Sun appears as a mottled orange orb, with several bright regions of swirling plasma appearing in pink and purple. A bright white flash of light appears in the upper right.

1.2 The Sun is active and can impact technology on Earth via space weather.

Topics: atmosphere, aurora, geomagnetic storm, ionization, magnetic fields, magnetic reconnection, magnetosphere, magnetotail, plasma, radio blackout, solar cycle, solar flare, solar wind, space weather, sunspots, Van Allen belts

Against a black background, the Sun seen in red, with spots of orange and black swirling. On the bottom right area of the star, there are spurts of solar material seen against the black background.

1.3 The Sun’s energy drives Earth’s climate, but the climate is in a delicate balance and is changing due to human activity.

Topics: atmosphere, climate change, energy, greenhouse effect, radiation

2. How do Earth, the solar system, and the heliosphere respond to changes on the Sun?

The Sun against a black background. The Sun appears mostly orange and fades to a darker red on the edges. Toward the middle and slightly to the left on the solar surface a few dark splotches.

2.1 Life on Earth has evolved with complex diversity because of our location near the Sun. It is just right! 

Topics: biosphere, energy, habitable zone, light, magnetosphere, photosynthesis, radiation

deatiled image of the sun

2.2 The Sun defines the space around it, which is different from interstellar space. 

Topics: heliosphere, interstellar space, magnetic fields, plasma, solar wind, space weather

Flaring, active regions of our sun are highlighted in this new image combining observations from several telescopes

2.3 The Sun is the primary source of light in our solar system. 

Topics: electromagnetic spectrum, energy, light, photosynthesis, radiation, spectroscopy

3. What causes the Sun to vary?

Sun, 335 angstrom UV

3.1 The Sun is made of churning plasma, causing the surface to be made of complex, tangled magnetic fields.

Topics: coronal mass ejection, electromagnetism, energy, ionization, magnetic fields, magnetic reconnection, plasma, solar cycle, solar flare, solar wind, space weather, sunspots

A tannish-orange Sun emits swirling pinkish flares slightly south of the middle of the sphere

3.2 Energy from the Sun is created in the core and travels outward through the Sun and into the heliosphere.

Topics: convection, corona, energy, heliosphere, light, nuclear fusion, plasma, radiation, solar wind, space weather

3.3 Our Sun, like all stars, has a life cycle.

Topics: nuclear fusion, solar cycle, stellar evolution, sunspots