Here, young historians learn about the space race by examining a letter written to John F. Kennedy by an elementary school student in 1961, and then reading an article to learn the historical context that helps them make sense of it. A fun, final assessment is a mini-game where historians need to correctly determine which major events in the space race happened after the others.
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Instructional Ideas
- Have scholars write their own letters to the present administration about current space exploration policy
Classroom Considerations
- Different parts of the lesson can be done individually, in groups, or as a whole class
Pros
- Demonstrates effectively that primary sources can come from a wide range of sources
- Relevant to a range of disciplines (science, social studies, English language arts)
- The game-based assessment provides a playful way to wrap up the lesson
- Doesn't attempt to have all the answers and helps participants be okay with the fact that they might not either
Cons
- None
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