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Instructional Video

Why We Send Animals to Space

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

What were the first living things to travel to space? Long before humans went into orbit, scientists sent animals into space to see how space exploration would affect living things. Viewers of an interesting video learn about how animals from simple invertebrates to dogs, monkeys, and apes provided critical information necessary to design and engineer products that would support human life in space.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Concepts
experimental design, outer space, space, space exploration, space flight, space programs, space shuttles, space travel, animals, the atmosphere, the earth's atmosphere, animal testing, astronauts, radiation, microgravity, genetic testing
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Additional Tags
science
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Instructional Ideas
  • Provide context for a discussion or debate about animal testing 
  • Use to support instruction on the history of space travel and exploration
Classroom Considerations
  • The topic of animal experimentation may be disturbing for some students 
  • This video is hosted on YouTube
Pros
  • Interesting, relevant topic sure to hold interest
  • Good connection to scientific experimentation and its effects
Cons
  • None
Common Core
RST.9-10.2 RST.11-12.2