Lesson Plan - To the Moon . . . and Back!

Watch a Video: The Space Race Continues

Discuss: How has human space exploration changed over time?

Preview Words to Know

Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• lunar
• celestial

Set a Purpose for Reading

Call attention to the “As You Read” question. Have students note details that explain the purpose of sending people to the moon.

1. Did human space exploration stop in the years after the last human moon landing? Explain. No. NASA ran other missions, like sending astronauts to the International Space Station, sending robots to Mars, and sending spacecraft to distant places.

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2. According to the author, how might sending humans to the moon help NASA prepare to send humans to Mars? The author writes that the moon is a good testing ground for sending astronauts deeper into space. A space station orbiting the moon could act as a base for spacecraft going into deep space.

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3. What is the purpose of the sidebar, “A Look at the Moon”? The sidebar’s purpose is to present key facts about the moon, like its size, temperature, and distance from Earth.

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FEATURED SKILL: Reading a Diagram

Use the Skill Builder “Back to the Moon” to have students read a Venn diagram about the Apollo and Artemis programs. 

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