LESSON PLAN

Space Travel Timeline (doc and pdf)

Grade Level: 4-6

Curriculum Area: Language Arts and Science

LA Frameworks:

ELA-5-E2 locating and evaluating information sources (e.g. print materials, databases, CD-ROM references, Internet information, electronic reference works, community and government data, television and radio resources, audio and visual materials); (1, 3, 4, 5)

ELA-5-E4 AND ELA-5-M4 using available technology to produce, revise, and publish a variety of works; (1, 3, 4)

ELA-4-M2 giving and following directions/procedures; (1, 4)

ESS-E-B1 observing and describing characteristics of objects in the sky; (1)

Lesson Objectives:

Students will use the Internet to find events in space history to include in a timeline.

Students will recognize the cause and effect relationships between events that happened in the exploration of space.

Students will learn how to use the TimeLiner software (a product of Tom Snyder Production with a 45 day free demo access).

http://www.teachtsp.com/classroom/timelineronline/index.asp

Students will present timelines to class.

Technology Connection: Internet and TimeLiner Software

Assessment: The rubric to assess the Timeline and teacher review of the Planning Sheet.

Procedures: (Click here for extended instructions)

1. The teacher will review topics of space and planets.

2. Put the students into pairs. Using the following websites, the students will determine which chronology of space discovery and exploration to use for creating a timeline. Possible timeline chronologies that can be done are:

A. Exploration of the Sun

B. Exploration of the Moon

C. Planet Exploration

D. Exploration of Mars

E. History of Satellite Development

F. Apollo Program

G. Gemini Program

H. Mercury Program

I. Space Shuttle History

J. Development of the International Space Station

K. Space Race between the USA and the USSR

L. Famous Astronauts through History

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/40thann/define.htm Chronology of Defining

Events in NASA History, 1958-1998

http://www.imagine5.com/TimeLine/index.html Space Exploration Timeline

http://www.solarviews.com/eng/craft1.htm Chronology of Space Exploration by Date

http://www.solarviews.com/eng/craft2.htm Chronology of Space Exploration by Planets

http://www.solarviews.com/eng/sschron.htm Chronology of Solar System Discovery by Century

3. Select 6- 12 events (teacher choice) to include in timeline and record them on Timeline

Planning Sheet. Frequently check the appearance of the timeline as you create it to minimize

crowding. You may need to choose between two events that are on the same date. If so,

choose the one that is most important.

4. The students will then create a computer-generated banner timeline using TimeLiner Software.

The following should be included in the timeline:

A. Month, day and year of each event

B. Should be clearly written with enough detail to be understood easily

C. Include no less than 6 or more than 12 events (again, teacher choice). Be selective and only

choose most important events and/or people.

D. Add pictures from the Internet to help explain the events. Only use relevant pictures.

E. Title should be large enough to be easily read from a distance.

F. Use only 2-3 colors throughout timeline (excluding pictures imported).

5. Share the timelines with the class and post for school observation.

Adding Pictures:

All graphics must be opened in another program and copied and pasted onto the timeline.

Follow these steps:

1. Minimize TimeLiner

2. Open a program that has clip art, or a program that can open graphic files.

3. Microsoft will work. Insert a picture from clip art or from file. Click on the graphic and

resize it. Select Edit, Copy. Select TimeLiner on the Taskbar, select Edit, Paste Picture.

Move the picture where you want it to be. Release mouse.

4. You can also select a picture from the Internet by minimizing the TimeLiner, opening the

Internet, and finding a picture. Hold down on the mouse button to open the menu. Select

Copy Image, release the mouse. Minimize the Internet screen, maximize the TimeLiner

program you are working on, select Edit, Paste Image or Paste. Then resize the image and

place it where you want it to be on the timeline.

One website that has space exploration pictures to copy is:

www.TeachTSP.com/classroom/timelineronline/hca.html Click on the NASA site.

Extensions:

Print the Data View of the timeline you have created and use it to create some

math word problems for another group to solve. The TimeLiner software has four views that

can be printed: Banner View, List View, Data View, and Compact View. Each view shows the data you have entered in a different format.

Other Planets, Other Moons Home Page

TimeLiner Software is a product of Tom Snyder Productions
(www.tomsnyder.com)

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Adobe® Acrobat Reader is a FREE, downloadable software program available from www.adobe.com.

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