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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 2: Maine's Merchant Marines

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students simulate the quarters aboard a ship. They write a letter to Joanna Colcord or Alice Drinkwater that shows an understanding of the experience of being aboard ship, and asks further historical questions about the experience.
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Interactive
Curated OER

Cloze Exercise: Romulus and Remus

For Students 7th - 9th
In this cloze exercise learning exercise, students enter words in the boxes to complete sentences in a paragraph.  The paragraph contains the story of Romulus and Remus.
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Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: Space Travel (Level 2)

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has the history of space travel. Includes President Kennedy's speeches on the Apollo program that can be downloaded. Many graphics, and a very complete history of space travel with links to more detailed information.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: The History of Space Exploration

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
For this lesson learners develop a time line of important events in relation to space exploration.
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Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: Space Travel (Level 1)

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about the history of space travel. Audio content is included as well as vocabulary words linked to a glossary of terms.
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Activity
Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments: Space Exploration Time Line

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This site provides a time line of the history of space exploration.
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Website
US National Archives

Nara: Space Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive timeline of the world's programs exploring space since the mid-1900's.
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Website
NASA

Nasa: Human Space Flight

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a wealth of information regarding space exploration. Content includes spaceflight history, real-time data, shuttle information, a gallery of photos, and more information from the NASA archives.
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Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: History of Space Travel

For Teachers 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This lesson is a brief history of space travel including a simple timeline.
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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.
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Website
Scholastic

Scholastic: Challenging the Space Frontier

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This Scholastic website offers information about space exploration. Use this site to learn about specific missions like the Friendship, Apollo 11, and STS 7. Also Dr. Mae Jemison is featured and interviewed.
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: Apollo Soyuz: Space Age Detente

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In July 1975, the first joint Soviet-American spacecraft docking took place. In this activity, students will analyze the way that government officials in both the United States and the Soviet Union valued space exploration for more than...
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Handout
Ducksters

Ducksters: Astronomy for Kids: Space Exploration Timeline

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn about the timeline of the history of space exploration including early astronomy, astronauts, spacecraft, planets, and the Moon.
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Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: History of Space Travel

For Teachers 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart presents an introduction to space travel from Sputnik to ISS. It is full of vintage photos that take you back in time and space.
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Primary
Digital Public Library of America

Dpla: Women in Science: Space Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
Through primary source documents, discover the history of NASA's "human computers," early aerospace industry pioneers, and the struggle for American women to be allowed into the astronaut program.
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Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Discovery Education: Liftoff Into Space

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn about the history of space exploration and what is happening in the current space program.
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Handout
Other

British National Space Centre: Space Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
A resource on space exploration offering information on unmanned and manned missions as well as on each planet of the solar system and what we have learned about them in recent history.
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Website
NASA

Nasa: History Timelines

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from NASA contains a directory of timelines related to NASA exploration and history. A valuable resource.
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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]
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Handout
NASA

Nasa: Solar System Exploration: The Robotic Exploration of Space

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover the evolution of robotic exploration of space during the first half of the twentieth century through narrative and images.
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Website
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Stuff to Do: Space Travel Guide

For Students 3rd - 8th
What makes science fiction so exciting? Read some examples of the genre and then create your own science fiction story about space travel. Use the supplied "travel guide" to generate ideas and structure your plot.
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Website
National Earth Science Teachers Association

Windows to the Universe: History & People

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographies of people throughout history who looked at the sky and wondered what was there. Links to a detailed description of the planets and interactive activities.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Air and Space Museum: Exploring the Planets: Early Discovery

For Students 9th - 10th
This section of the exhibition gives the history of the discovery and study of space starting with the Greeks and Romans through to the early 1900's.
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Unit Plan
NASA

Nasa: Exploration: Then and Now: Nasa and Jamestown Education Module

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This small collection of lesson plans introduces students to exploration by comparing the settlement of Jamestown to space missions. Find background information and links to other lesson plans.