History of Flight, Rocketry and Space Travel (teens)

The history of flight and space travel is deeply embedded in the narrative of 20th Century political history and scientific progress. We will examine World War I, World War II, and the Cold War through the lens of aviation and rocketry, with particular emphasis on the US/Soviet "Space Race". We will also discuss the scientific achievements of space exploration and future space endeavors. Students will be challenged to construct their own interpretations from a variety of primary, secondary and digital sources and conduct their own research with the assistance of the instructor. We will learn about the logistics of flying and the living conditions of astronauts in different types of spacecraft. We will also cover the scientific goals, discoveries and successes/failures of various missions, including Voyager, Cassini, Mars Rovers and the Hubble Telescope. Students will be encouraged to showcase what they've learned through the usage of timelines, maps, illustrations, models and journal responses, all of which will be practiced in class. Other activities will include; model plane and rocket construction.