The Space Race Lesson Plan Lesson Title: Tracing the Race Into Space Overview: Students will

use primary source documents and images to examine the United States actions in sending a man to the moon. Students will then discuss and assess the statement made by Neil Armstrong when he first stepped foot on the moon, using the information that they have gathered throughout the activity. Subject Area: United States History Duration: two 45-minute class periods Grade Level: 9-12 Objectives: Students will explain the reasons why the United States became involved in the Space Race. Students will assess the success of the U.S. space program in its early years. Students will explain the progress that the U.S. made in the space program throughout the 1960s. Students will evaluate the success and importance of the U.S. space program. Lesson Procedure: 1. Begin by having students brainstorm what they know about the Space Race? What was it? What caused it? When did it end? What were the outcomes? 2. Direct students to http://docsteach.org/activities/13380 , and have students answer the questions throughout the activity on the handout provided. 3. Show students the video footage of Neil Armstrong setting foot on the moon. Video is available here: http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/Videos/StarChild/space/1st_step.mov . 4. Based on the classroom activity found at http://www.readwritethink.org/classroomresources/calendar-activities/1969-first-human-walked-20560.html , have students consider the language that Armstrong used. a. Begin by discussing the importance of one word in the phrase. b. Post the following questions to a class blog or wiki where students can respond and read/comment on each others responses. Here is an example Wordpress page: http://edtechsamples.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/the-race-to-the-moon/ i. How do Armstrong's words connect to Kennedy's, how do they connect to the mission at large, and how do they represent the space program? ii. Have students use these webpages to help inform their responses: 1. http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/58/features/F_Apollo_35th_Anniversary.html 2. http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/online/posters/impactnoframe.html?/exhibitions/online/posters/moon.html

3. http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/attm/attm.html Assessment: 1. Use student answers on handout to assess their understanding and explanation of the U.S. space program. 2. Use a rubric to evaluate student responses to the Read, Write, Think questions. Evaluate based on factual understanding as well as analysis of John F. Kennedy and the space programs goals.