Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
Landing a Man on the Moon: President Nixon and the Apollo Program InteractiveLanding a Man on the Moon: President Nixon and the Apollo Program Interactive
Publisher
DocsTeach
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
8th - 12th
Subjects
Social Studies & History
3 more...
Resource Types
Activities & Projects
1 more...
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
45 mins
Instructional Strategies
Direct Instruction
2 more...
Technology
Projection
Internet Access
Usage Permissions
Public Domain
Interactive

Landing a Man on the Moon: President Nixon and the Apollo Program

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Landing a Man on the Moon: President Nixon and the Apollo Program interactive also includes:
  • Student Activity
  • Apollo 11 Flight Plan
  • Apollo 11 Target of Opportunity Flight Chart
  • Debrief: Apollo 8
  • Earth, as Seen from Apollo 17
  • Join to access all included materials

Take 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 papers and photographs related to the mission. Discussion questions help them understand the impact of the moon mission not only on the space program, but also the Cold War.

3 Views 2 Downloads
CCSS: Adaptable

Concepts

moon exploration, the moon, apollo 11, space, space exploration, space flight, space programs, the space race, the cold war, richard nixon, the presidency of richard nixon, primary source images, primary source analysis, primary sources

Instructional Ideas

  • Use the document analysis activity to discuss the significance of the lunar landing in American history

Classroom Considerations

  • Learners should have some understanding of the Cold War and Space Race
  • Class members need computer access to complete the activities

Pros

  • Primary sources are unique and engaging
  • Discussion questions help students make connections between different events and dynamics in history

Cons

  • Focus on Nixon may leave out critical events related to other administrations and the space program

Common Core

RH.6-8.1 RH.6-8.2 RH.6-8.7 RH.6-8.10 RH.9-10.1 RH.9-10.2 RH.9-10.7 RH.9-10.10 RH.11-12.1 RH.11-12.2 RH.11-12.7 RH.11-12.10

See similar resources:

Lesson Plan

Understanding and Analyzing “The U.S. of Us” by Richard Blanco

Anti-Defamation League
Current immigration issues and the rhetoric surrounding the controversies come into focus with a lesson that uses Richard Blanco's anthem, "The U.S. of Us," written after the August 2019 attack in El Paso, Texas, to open a discussion of...
8th - 12th English Language Arts
CCSS: Designed
Lesson Plan

Guest-Worker Program

Constitutional Rights Foundation
The U.S. Guest-Worker Program and the H-2A visa are the focus of a social studies activity. First, class members assume the role of advisors who must present the president with four proposals that would amend the visas given to...
9th - 12th Social Studies & History
CCSS: Adaptable
Interactive

Apollo-Soyuz: Space Age Detente

DocsTeach
The 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...
6th - 12th Social Studies & History
Interactive

The Space Race: Project Mercury

DocsTeach
Race to the moon! An engaging activity focuses on NASA's Project Mercury and the Space Race. Scholars read a memorandum regarding the project and explore how it fueled Cold War tensions. Academics complete a worksheet and discuss the...
8th - 12th Social Studies & History
Lesson Plan

Understanding the Prison Label

Teaching Tolerance
Break the chain. An engaging lesson plan examines why it is so hard to break free of the prison system in the US. Academics participate in a reader's theater, read primary sources, and discuss their thoughts. The lesson plan explains the...
9th - 12th English Language Arts
Instructional Video

On This Day: Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster

C-SPAN
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...
3 mins 6th - Higher Ed Social Studies & History
CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Video

14th Amendment Discussion Starter: The Emancipation Proclamation

National Constitution Center
In 1863 life forever changed for African American slaves when the Emancipation Proclamation was announced. An interesting video clip shows two actors reading excerpts from the Emancipation Proclamation and a letter by a slave named Annie...
2 mins 7th - 12th Social Studies & History
Instructional Video

The Myth of Oisín and the Land of Eternal Youth

TED-Ed
Viewers learn about Echtrai, an Irish myth genre, with the retelling of the myth of Oisin and his visit with Niamh to Tir na nOg, the land of eternal youth.
4 mins 6th - Higher Ed English Language Arts
Worksheet

Space Race Quiz

Curated OER
In need of a 14 question multiple choice quiz on the space race? This quiz will challenge your class to recall facts related to the moon landing, Neil Armstrong, Sputnik, and America's race to space with Russia.
7th - 10th Social Studies & History
Lesson Plan

"It's More Than a School": Proposing Programs to Meet Student Needs

Curated OER
This detailed lesson plan from New York Times' The Learning Network centers around Carroll Academy and its girl's basketball team. Learners compare their school to Carroll Academy, read anywhere from 1 to 5 engaging articles about the...
10th - 12th Physical Education
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use