Two Minds Think Alike: Kennedy and Von Braun

Learning Resource Type

Learning Activity

Subject Area

English Language Arts
Social Studies

Grade(s)

6

Overview

This activity may serve as a final activity after a study of the 1960's Space Race. Students will utilize their prior knowledge of President Kennedy's entry into the Space Race, the role of Wernher Von Braun, and Huntsville's Marshall Space Flight Center. Students will write newspaper articles describing the policies and programs that Kennedy expanded in order to be the first to the moon. 

This activity results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project. 

Phase

After/Explain/Elaborate
Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 6

SS10.6.10

Analyze changing economic priorities and cycles of economic expansion and contraction for their impact on society since World War II.

UP:SS10.6.10

Vocabulary

  • economic expansion
  • economic contraction
  • service economy
  • "boom and bust"
  • economic bubbles
  • GI Bill of Rights of 1944
  • Medicare
  • Medicaid
  • Head Start programs
  • Children's Health Insurance Program
  • manufacturing
  • standard of living
  • globalization
  • outsourcing
  • insourcing
  • environmental protection
  • immigration

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The cycles of economic expansion and contraction and the impact these cycles had on American society after WWII.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Analyze and explain policies and programs that economically impacted society since World War II.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • There are cycles of economic expansion and contraction and this has had an impact on American society after WWII.
ELA21.6.R4

Learning Objectives

  • Students will identify the economic impact of JFK's increased NASA funding, Von Braun's relocation to Redstone Arsenal, and Kennedy's challenge to put a man on the moon and how those events impacted Huntsville, Alabama.
  • Students will write a newspaper article utilizing an appropriate and accurate headline, date, and caption.

Activity Details

  1. The class should review the facts about Von Braun and the German rocket scientists that were part of Operation Paperclip in the 1950's.
  2. Students should have a good understanding of Kennedy's entry into the Space Race and his challenge to NASA to land a man on the moon.
  3. The teacher should review the parts of a newspaper article: headline, by-line, and the when, where, who and what of the story.
  4. Distribute the photograph to each student and tell them to include the photo and caption within their articles.
  5. Discuss the assignment with the students: Write a three to five paragraph article about the meeting between President Kennedy and Wernher Von Braun in May 1963.
  6. Allow the students to brainstorm some possible events and programs that they may include in the article: Sputnik, U.S.S.R, Operation Paperclip, Redstone Arsenal, Eisenhower's establishment of NASA, Kennedy's challenge, Alan Shepard's suborbital flight in 1961.
  7. Allow students to use any relevant class notes or textbooks while writing articles.  
  8. Allow time to go through the writing process, allowing students to edit drafts. 
  9. Students may share articles.

Assessment Strategies

  • The teacher should monitor class discussions during the review of Space Race.
  • The teacher should monitor the students during the writing process.
  • Final newspaper articles should be scored for accuracy and thoroughness of information, use of newspaper guidelines, and the inclusion of photograph and caption.
  • Final newspaper articles should include details about the programs and events that led to the meeting of Kennedy and Von Braun at Redstone Arsenal.

Variation Tips

  • Allow students to create the articles on computers/laptops, if available. The photograph may be inserted into the article.
  • Students may work with a partner to write and publish the articles.
  • Students may print other photographs of the visit to Huntsville to use in the article.

Background / Preparation

  • The students should have prior knowledge of the German rocket scientists of WWII and their relocation to the U.S.
  • The students should have prior knowledge of the creation of NASA and Kennedy's desire to put a man on the moon.
  • The students should have prior knowledge of the establishment of Redstone Arsenal and Wernher Von Braun's role in space exploration.
Encyclopedia of Alabama: JFK and Wernher Von Braun
http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/m-2651

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

lesaroberts
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