Digital History
Digital History: The Space Race
In October 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite. The 184-pound, 22.5-inch sphere orbited the earth once every 96 minutes. Sputnik transmitted radio signals for 21 days and later burned up in...
White House Historical Association
White House Historical Association: John F. Kennedy and the Space Race
A look at John F. Kennedy's goal for the United States, which was to send the first man to the Moon and to bring him safely back to Earth. Informational text and lesson plan for students in grades 9-12.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980: The Start of the Space Race
Learn about the launch of Sputnik and the establishment of NASA.
ABCya
Ab Cya: Multiplication Space Race
Multiplication Space Race is an educational multi-player racing activity for kids to practice multiplication. Students race against each other to capture the Space Race Cup! How quickly the student correctly answers the multiplication...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Education: Walk on the Moon
This online lesson helps students explore primary sources, including photographs and audio and video recordings, in order to learn about the Apollo crew and spacecraft, the history of the space race, and the incredible technological...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Contemporary Nonfiction: Jfk Speech
This lesson focuses on John F. Kennedy's speech, "We Choose to go to the Moon," delivered at Rice University on September 12, 1962. It features links to JFK's biography and Wikipedia entry, the National Geographic: "Moon 101" video, the...
US National Archives
Docsteach: Landing a Man on the Moon: President Nixon and the Apollo Program
This activity chronicles the Space Race from President Kennedy's call to land on the Moon until Apollo 17 - the last lunar Mission, placing particular emphasis on President Nixon's role in the space program.
Arcademics
Arcademics: Multiplication Space Race
Select the correct product for the multiplication problem to advance your spaceship.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Education: Apollo 11 Walking on the Moon
Check out this interactive website about the space race.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Johnson's Task, Unify Space Program
Russia was ahead in the "space race" in 1961. In this article, the Library of Congress discusses how President Kennedy assigned Lyndon Johnson the task of uniting the different parts of the U.S. space program into NASA.
A&E Television
History.com: The Space Race: Interactive Universe
A virtual journey through space offers photos and facts about Earth and its neighboring planets, comets, other celestial bodies of the Solar System, and the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies.
Curated OER
National Park Service: America's Space Program Exploring a New Frontier
This site includes a lesson plan for teachers to use when teaching about America's space program. Also included is the history of the space program, maps, readings, images of the space program, and benefits that resulted from space...
Have Fun With History
Have Fun With History: Space Race: Nasa Space Program
Learning module with multi-media resources, activities and videos on NASA, the Kennedy space program that dominated the 1960s.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Text Sets: The Cold War
This is a collection of 16 Grade-Leveled texts (6-12) on the topic The Cold War. After America and the Soviet Union fought as allies in World War II, a new "cold" war emerged between the two superpowers characterized not by direct...
Other
Historic Wings: "One Small Step" Race to the Moon
"One Small Step, The Race To The Moon" is a clear presentation of the story of the Moon landing program that the United States conducted during the 1960's and early 1970's. After launching the presentation click on the phases of the Moon...
Flow of History
Flow of History: Nuclear Arms Race
The events and countries involved in the nuclear arms race are profiled. Text plus a colored graphic flowchart make the topic visually appealing and of interest to both students and educators.
NASA
Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Russian Lunar Missions
Details the Russian lunar missions from Luna 1 to Zond 8.
Other
We Choose the Moon
Feel like you were right there when Apollo 11 was launched as you listen to the actual Mission Control audio from that date. The mission is further brought to life by photos and video of the event as well as a virtual animation. Go...
PBS
Pbs: Red Files: Secret Soviet Moon Mission
PBS offers biographies and stories from the early days of the Soviet Space program, which prompted the Space Race and nuclear arms race between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Kennedy's New Frontier
Read about John Kennedy's vision for America upon his becoming president. Find out about the space race with the Soviet Union, and expanded social programs for the poor and elderly in America.
Read Works
Read Works: Humanity on the Record
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about prehistoric evolution of the human race. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Other
Historic Wings: John Glenn Friendship 7
The story of America's first astronaut to orbit the earth during the Mercury Space program. After launching the program click on continue or on the numbers to learn about the story of the Mercury program and the first American to orbit...
Other
Flickr: Project Apollo Archive: Albums
Browse through over 200 albums of more than 13,000 photographs taken of all of the Apollo space journeys. This project provides a visual history of the space race.
NASA
Nasa: Salyut 4
Overview of the Salyut 4 space station mission and instrumentation. Has a great picture of the computer rendering of the space station.