Here, young historians learn about the space race by examining a letter written to John F. Kennedy by an elementary school student in 1961, and then reading an article to learn the historical context that helps them make sense of it. A...

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. And so begins your invigorating, innovative learning experience in the JFK Challenge app! Learners choose from two "missions" and...

Modern animation presents an overview of the history of space exploration. Beginning with Sputnik in 1957, the international space race was on. Eventually, space exploration became, not a competition, but rather a collaboration. Also,...

New ReviewTake the small step for man and giant leap for mankind with the Apollo astronauts using primary sources. Young historians explore the documents related to the American space program up through the lunar landing, including presidential...

New ReviewThe Space Race saw the Soviet Union and the US go from competitors to partners. Scholars read a letter regarding the first docking of the US and Soviet space craft. Young historians also complete a written assignment and participate in...

The launch of Sputnik began the Space Race. Scholars learn the importance of the Russian launch of Sputnik and how it impacted the United States. The video also explores how Sputnik launched the Space Race and how the fear of Russian...

Teens might find it hard to imagine life before GPS. Using global positioning systems, they can quickly locate the nearest gas station, fast food establishment, or the home of a new friend. Introduce them to Gladys West, the lady who...

The poster of Mae C. Jemison, the first African-American woman astronaut, challenges young scientists to consider what they intend to do to achieve their dreams. 

Exactly what is the right stuff? Individuals consider the question using video clips about the astronaut legend, John Glenn. Footage includes NASA propaganda newsreels about his upbringing, as well as speeches from Glenn and his...

When the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated as it returned home in 2003, it sparked questions about the future of America's space program. Using video footage that includes former astronauts involved in the shuttle program, experts on...

While the 1950s seemed to be a time of peace and prosperity, Sputnik, the Korean War, and the Montgomery bus boycott were symptoms of the turmoil that loomed under the surface. Using documents, class members investigate what these events...

Apollo 8—the mission to orbit the moon—changed the trajectory of human history and space travel. A series of videos, including historians, the mission commander, and footage of the mission, allows pupils to watch the mission as it...

Space stations provide opportunities for space exploration and research. Individuals see how scientists build space stations and put them into space. Viewers explore the history of space stations, the different types of space stations...

What do the Cold War and the Space Race have in common? Learners search for that answer and many more, helping them to build their knowledge of historical global politics and tensions between nations. Following the reading, they answer...

Check out these Wonder Women! Introduce young scientists to some of the most amazing ladies the scientific community has seen. With stories from medicine, agriculture, and the Space Program, learners witness how women have played a...

The world of computing has come a long way since ENIAC. The 24th installment of a Crash Course Computer Science series focuses on how historical events have propelled advances in computing. From the Cold War to the Space Race to mass...

Sometimes the most important details of an informational text aren't within the text at all. Teach your class how to read timeline with a set of activities that prompts them to find specific dates and events on the timelines, as well as...

Project Paperclip, the Redstone Arsenal, and the Huntsville Space Center are all featured in a resource that investigates the contributions of Dr. Werner von Brawn and other German scientists to the US space program. Working individually...

From the USSR's launch of Sputnik in 1957 to Neil Armstrong's mission to the moon in 1969, review major events in the timeline of the space race during the mid-twentieth century. 

By the end of the 1970s, who was "winning" the Cold War? Your young historians will make an argument on this topic in a very well structured paragraph, focusing on either the political, technological, or economic competition between the...

Sputnik was one of the greatest scientific advancements of the 1950s, and this reading lesson plan does it justice. Pupils start off with pre-reading questions and a video. They then read an excerpt from an article, which is accompanied...

"Whoever controls space will control the world, " Lyndon B. Johnson said after the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik. This fueled the space race and encouraged the United States' goal of landing a man on the moon before the...

Provide a little background information and introduce learners to one of the biggest moments in US history: the Apollo 11 moon landing. This news report describes the event, the time, and life in space. This is a report celebrating the...

From his inaugural speech to the Bay of Pigs, major events concerning the Kennedy presidency are discussed. Slides provide an array of images and web links to highlight some of the bigger issues surrounding President Kennedy. The...