National Math + Science Initative
Reading an Informational Text: "It All Started with Sputnik"
Sputnik was one of the greatest scientific advancements of the 1950s, and this reading lesson does it justice. Pupils start off with pre-reading questions and a video. They then read an excerpt from an article, which is accompanied by...
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Sputnik
Students study Sputnik and what it looks like. In this Sputnik lesson students complete several activities while in groups.
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October 4, 1957 - Sputnik I
For this writing prompt worksheet, students learn that on October 4, 1957 Sputnik I, the first space vehicle, was launched. Students write about traveling in space and what they would like to explore. If students don't want to space...
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Space Exploration
Students explore the significance of the four space programs: Sputnik, Apollo, Viking, and Voyager. In this space exploration instructional activity, students view a space exploration slideshow and complete an included chart of space...
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The Kennedy Years
Eighth graders read text and view films about the Kennedy administration. In this preseidential administration lesson, 8th graders interview someone who lived during Sputnik, write summaries of lectures, and create posters demonstrating...
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Memorandum of a Conference with President Eisenhower after Sputnik
Learners document and list excerpts from a document that shows how calmly officials reacted to the launching of Sputnik. They research contemporary magazines and newspaper articles of the day as well.
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The History of Space Travel
Who was the first person in space? What was the name of the first animal in space? These fun and intriguing questions get answered with a presentation covering the beginnings of space travel. There are eight informational slides that...
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Just a "Fellow Traveler" in the Human Experience
Students connect the events of early space exploration to their lives today. After viewing a teacher created gallery, they discuss how the launch of Sputnik and how space exploration in general has positively or negatively affected...
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The Space Race
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.
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Space Exploration
Sixth graders identify and interpret the following: What is space?, Space Race, Living in space?, Man on the Moon, Astronaut training; students compare/contrast US and Russia space exploration. Students write a letter of application to...
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Milestones in the Space Program
Students brainstorm names of astronauts from NASA space missions. They are explained that the Cold War was not actually a war but pervasive tension that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union for several decades...
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Milestones in Human Spaceflight
Students investigate the history and goals of NASA and human spaceflight. In this space science lesson, students answer questions about one of seven manned space programs and print pictures from the mission. As a class, students will...
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Words in the News Solar Sail
Bring current events into your classroom! Middle schoolers complete word work activities before reading and discussing an online article. They complete worksheets and an online quiz. They discuss the Solar Sail as radical new idea and...
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Warring Philosophies: The Cold War
Learners explain why the Cold War took place and ended. They analyze its significance as a 29th century event. Students identify the differences between the USA and USSR during the Cold War.
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Rocketry
Students design and construct a paper rocket that can be launched with a drinking straw. They participate in a lecture and read an article about rocketry and how Newton's Third Law applies to rocket launches. Each student constructs...
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Flight of the Future/Space Flight
Learners explore space science by viewing videos on YouTube. In this moon landing lesson, students view clips of Neil Armstrong taking his first step on the moon and discuss the space race between the U.S. and Russia. Learners utilize...
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The Cuban Missile Crisis
Students explore facets of the Cold War. In this Cold War history lesson, students research a Cold War event in order to write a news story about the events that features direct quotations and images.
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Artificial Satellites and Space Probes
In this satellites worksheet, students match the list of facts given with the artificial satellite or space probe that it describes. This worksheet has 12 matching questions.
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Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases
In these prepositional phrases worksheets, students review the definitions and examples for prepositional phrases, prepositions, and object of prepositions. Students then complete three pages of activities for prepositions.
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Men in Space: From Goddard to Armstrong
Students view "Men in Space: From Goddard to Armstrong," taking a examine the the extraordinary lives of the men who conquered space.
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Cold War Chronology
In this Cold War activity, students examine the chronological list of important events between 1945 and 1991. Students then respond to 7 short answer questions based on the chronology.
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The Space Race in the '50's
Young scholars explore the impact of the space race. In this 1950's America lesson, students examine newspapers from the time period as well as Apollo mission episodes. Young scholars then create journals from the perspectives of Apollo...
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Science: Space Quiz
In this science: space quiz worksheet, students answer twenty questions, not interactively, about outer space, then scroll down to find the answers.
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Newspaper Writing on Flight in History
Students read about important events in history through newspaper articles. In this newspaper lesson, students look at different writing styles and author's bias in different articles about the same event. They write their own articles...