Use the news: rocks from the moon
Lesson for grades 5-8
For the first time in more than 40 years, a spacecraft fromEarth is heading to themoon to collect rock samples and bring them back. The mission by the Chinese space agency blasted off lastweek in the Asian nation and if all goes well will return in mid-December with its special cargo. If the mission is successful, China will be just the third nation to bring rock samples back fromthe moon, following the United States and the Soviet Union (now Russia).
The Chinese mission plans to collect more than four pounds of specimens from an area of the moon not explored before.
In the 1970s, three successful Soviet missions brought back a total of about 10 ounces of moon rock, the New York Times newspaper reported. American astronauts brought back more than 800 pounds of rock and soil from Apollomissions from1969 to1972.
The landing site for the Chinese
mission is a volcanic plain in a “younger” part of the moon than those targeted earlier. Scientists are hopeful the “younger” samples will provide new knowledge about the moon’s history and evolution.
The Asian nation of China has made great strides developing its space program. Last year it became the first nation to land a spacecraft on the back side of the moon, and its astronauts have docked three times with space stations China built and put in orbit.
Activity: In the newspaper or online, find and closely read stories about advances China has made with its space program. Usewhat you read to brainstorm an idea for a documentary film about the Chinese space program. Write an outline for your film, including images youwould use. Give your film a title that would make students your age want to watch it. Pick a celebrity narrator for your film and explain your choice.