Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The New Deal

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers investigate the history behind The New Deal through using primary source documents. This allows students to discover history with limited background knowledge. They answer questions and receive further clarification with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Alien Visitor's Rewrite

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students role play the role of an alien who analyzes how the media represents the different social groups. In groups, they write their own story in which they add or revise a character to make it non-stereotypical. They share their...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Breaking News English: Indian Breaks Hot-Air Balloon Record

For Students 5th - 10th
In this English worksheet, students read "Indian Breaks Hot-Air Balloon Record," and then respond to 47 fill in the blank, 7 short answer, 20 matching, and 8 true or false questions about the selection.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Breaking News English: Indian Breaks Hot-Air Balloon Record

For Students 5th - 10th
For this English worksheet, students read "Indian Breaks Hot-Air Balloon Record," and then respond to 47 fill in the blank, 7 short answer, 20 matching, and 8 true or false questions about the selection.
Website
Other

The Space Race

For Students 9th - 10th
Although the space race was originally a competition between two Cold War foes,it ultimately resulted in many benefits for the people of the Earth. Find information on the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo, and Soviet space programs,...
Primary
Digital Public Library of America

Dpla: Space Race

For Students 9th - 10th
This set focuses on the Space Race during the mid-1950s and 1960s and examines the impact of the Space Race today. Includes a teacher's guide.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Who Won the Space Race?

For Students 9th - 10th
Jeff Steers describes the history and benefits of the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. [4:47]
Handout
Digital History

Digital History: The Space Race

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: The Space Race Is Over

For Students 9th - 10th
A learning module that begins with "The Space Race Is Over" by Paul Kingsnorth, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through free...
Lesson Plan
White House Historical Association

White House Historical Association: John F. Kennedy and the Space Race

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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.
Website
NASA

Nasa: Sputnik and the Dawn of the Space Age

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from NASA describes the impact that Sputnik had in triggering the space race.
Unit Plan
BBC

Bbc: Space Race

For Students 9th - 10th
There are galaxies far, far away, but just how big is our own solar system? Scroll through this interactive to quickly observe just how much we know and have learned about our solar system.
Website
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Chronology of Lunar and Planetary Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed chronology of all Russian and American attempts at lunar and planetary exploration. Contains links to each individual spacecraft.
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: The Space Race

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides interesting facts and an overview of the Cold War Space Race (1957-1975), a competition in the exploration of space between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Unit Plan
Have Fun With History

Have Fun With History: Space Race: Nasa Space Program

For Students 9th - 10th
Learning module with multi-media resources, activities and videos on NASA, the Kennedy space program that dominated the 1960s.
Graphic
Digital Public Library of America

Dpla: Race to the Moon

For Students 9th - 10th
In 1955, the US and the USSR each announced plans to launch a satellite into orbit. Thus began the race to the moon. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the American space program and its new classes of astronauts achieved breakthroughs in...
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Quiz: Space Race of the Cold War for Kids

For Students 1st - 9th
History Questions: Space Race Quiz, Test, and WebQuest
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: The Cold War for Kids: Space Race

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn the history of the Space Race during the Cold War. A race between the United States and the Soviet Union to put a man on the Moon.
Handout
NASA

Nasa: Tests Versus Time in the Race for Space

For Students 9th - 10th
This NASA site offers a good description of the ongoing space race during the Kennedy administration, discussing the "nip and tuck" of the Soviet-U.S. race. Also includes a description of Kennedy's new special assistant for science and...
Handout
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: The Start of the Space Race

For Students 9th - 10th
Looks at the USSR's launch of Sputnik and the galvanizing effect it had on America's motivation to fund aerospace research. NASA was soon formed and more funding was put in place for public education in the sciences and math.
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1945 1980: The Start of the Space Race

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the launch of Sputnik and the establishment of NASA.
Website
Other

Historic Wings: "One Small Step" Race to the Moon

For Students 9th - 10th
"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...
Handout
Flow of History

Flow of History: Nuclear Arms Race

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Air and Space Museum: Apollo to the Moon

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource offers an in-depth exploration of the U.S. space program and the role President John F. Kennedy took in setting the agenda for manned space flight to the moon.