Washington – September 07, 2026 -- The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum has launched "On Air," a free educational video series aimed at students in grades five through eight.
Monthly video collections cover a rotating set of aerospace topics
Each month during the school year, the museum releases a new collection built around a single theme. Confirmed topics for the 2026–2027 school year include weather in September, the solar system in October, art in November, air ships in February, moons in March, and comets and meteors in April.
Every collection contains four videos, each under 10 minutes, plus an educator guide with classroom resources, student activities and full lesson plans.
Four video formats break down each topic from a different angle
"Setting the Scene" opens each collection with museum expertise on the topic. "Collection Connection" links artifacts from the Smithsonian's holdings to student learning. "Career Paths" profiles people working in the aerospace industry and traces how they got there. "Teacher Tips" walks educators through an in-depth lesson plan, breaking it into manageable segments and offering extension activities.
Videos are free to stream on YouTube and a dedicated classroom player
All content is available on YouTube and through a classroom-friendly video player on the "On Air" website, with materials aligned to national education standards.
The series is supported by Amazon, Boeing and the Hexcel Foundation. The museum's Washington, D.C. location and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, both offer free admission, though timed-entry passes are required for the D.C. site.