It’s been over 50 years since the first moon landing. Join this course to learn Apollo history and explore future space possibilities within the physics of gravity and motion in space. Join this fabulous integrated science course with high-interest details and get excited about science!
Total Classes: 13
Duration: 45 minutes per class
Prerequisite: None; Pre-algebra math skills will be demonstrated
Suggested Grade Level: 6th to 9th grade
Suggested Credit: Full semester Science, Physical Science, or Modern History
Instructor: MacBeth Derham
Instructor Email: macbethderham@gmail.com
Course Description: History meets engineering in this course celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Moon landing. We will begin with some basic physics—gravity and motion—and continue through the events and challenges of each Apollo mission, the recent Chinese lunar landing, and ask, “What’s next?”
Course Outline:
Week 1: Gravity, propulsion, breaking free, and the Moon
Week 2: Apollo 1, a sad story
Week 3: Apollo 7, 1st live TV from Earth Orbit
Week 4: Apollo 8, the “Dark” side and Earthrise
Week 5: Apollo 9, testing the Lunar Module
Week 6: Apollo 10, almost there…
Week 7: Apollo 11, One Small Step
Week 8: Apollo 12, 2EVAs
Week 9: Apollo 13, Oops.
Week 10: Apollo 14, 15, Color TV, materials science, Lunar Rover
Week 11: Apollo 16, 17, Lunar Highlands, more EVAs, Night Launch; Geologist on the Moon
Week 12: Apollo 18, 19, 20, Canceled Missions, and Skylab
Week 13: China goes to the Moon! What about US?
Course Materials: Selected readings from two books: Apollo to the Moon, ISBN-13: 978-1426219931 (https://amzn.to/3GUT6oh) and Mission Control, This is Apollo, ISBN: 9780670011568 (BookFinder.com)
Homework: Reading, weekly automated quizzes for immediate feedback. Expect to spend approximately one to two hours per week on homework outside of the classroom.
- Teacher: MacBeth Derham