America’s Space Program: Exploring a New Frontier (Teaching with Historic Places)

This lesson is part of the National Park Service’s Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) program.


Use this lesson plan to learn about the 1969 launch of the Saturn V rocket that propelled. Apollo 11 to the Moon. Click on the photo for the full lesson plan.

Objective

1. To identify the events that led to the US decision to send a man to the Moon;
2. To examine some of the work necessary to make the Apollo project possible;
3. To describe how widely separated space centers cooperated on the Apollo project;
4. To evaluate arguments for preserving historic sites relating to the space program;
5. To discuss comparable debates about preserving places in their own communities that are associated with recent history.

Background

Time Period: 1960s
Topics: The lesson can be used in American history, social studies, and geography courses in units on the space program, the Cold War and its effects on American society, or interdisciplinary units on science and technology.

Full Lesson Plan