ALEX Resources

Narrow Results:

Learning Activities (1)

Classroom Resources (6)

ALEX Learning Activities

Subject: Social Studies (6)
Title: Happy Anniversary Apollo 11!
Description:

In this learning activity, students will watch a video of the original Apollo 11 moon landing from July 16, 1969. The teacher will read aloud an article titled "This is How the Space Race Changed the Great Power Rivalry Forever" from The National Interest. After reading the article, the teacher will lead a brief discussion about the rivalry between Russia and the United States referred to as the "Space Race". Students will then break off into groups and conduct a mock television interview with the three astronauts from Apollo 11.

This activity results from the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

ALEX Learning Activities: 1

ALEX Classroom Resources

Subject: Social Studies (6)
Title: John F. Kennedy's Speech at the Berlin Wall
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBQvKXIDiuc
Description:

John F. Kennedy presents a speech about the Berlin Wall, advocating for the demolition of the wall and the end of communism.

Subject: Social Studies (6)
Title: Climbing Space
URL: https://www.readworks.org/article/Climbing-Space/348ea084-9b0a-4339-af68-58229061ca0f
Description:

In this reading passage, students learn about John F. Kennedy's reasons behind the "Space Race". "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too." (from John F. Kennedy's Rice Stadium Moon Speech - September 12, 1962).

Subject: Social Studies (6 - 11)
Title: The Cold War Primary Source Documents
URL: https://sheg.stanford.edu/history-lessons/cold-war
Description:

In this lesson, students explore a variety of documents highlighting various issues and perspectives that led to the Cold War and address the question: Who was primarily responsible for the Cold War, the United States or the Soviet Union? Students will read and analyze four primary documents about the Cold War including excerpts from Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech and the Truman Doctrine, to answer the essential question.

The website includes lesson plans, PowerPoint presentations, primary source documents, and student graphic organizers. Teachers will need to create a free account to access the materials.

Subject: Social Studies (6)
Title: When the Space Age Came to Florida
URL: https://www.readworks.org/article/When-the-Space-Age-Came-to-Florida/2fb97ffd-8811-4242-8641-802abe0a02f6
Description:

In this passage, students learn about the "Race to Space." In 1961, President John F. Kennedy made a bold statement. He announced that the U.S. would put a man on the moon before the end of the decade. Americans were thrilled about this possibility.

A vocabulary activity and question set is included with the passage.

Subject: Social Studies (6)
Title: A Hidden Figure of the Space Race: Katherine G. Johnson
URL: https://www.readworks.org/article/A-Hidden-Figure-of-the-Space-Race-Katherine-G-Johnson/d52c4b49-20f8-4c65-baeb-a222446d8960
Description:

In this passage, students learn about Katherine G. Johnson. Katherine G. Johnson is probably most known for her work on the orbital mission of John Glenn. He was set to be the first American to orbit around the Earth. But he did not trust all of the electronic machines that would control the path of his spaceship. These machines would sometimes malfunction. Glenn asked the engineers for Katherine G. Johnson’s help. He trusted her to check every single mathematical equation. She checked the numbers, and Glenn’s mission was a success! Now, there is a movie called Hidden Figures that tells the true story of how she and two other brilliant African American women made sure this mission was a triumph.

A vocabulary activity and question set are included with the passage.

ALEX Classroom Resources: 5