Ready for Blastoff Unit Study

If your child gets excited about rockets, planets, solar systems and flying then this is just the unit study for him or her.  Join us as we discover the history of space travel, the beginning of NASA, look at astronauts and their training, research in space and the engineers and mathematicians that make it possible to design rockets and calculate the formulas to make rockets fly.  Students will be introduced to people who have worked in various areas behind the scene of a launch and the astronomers who locate what is in the sky.

Students will need to purchase or borrow copies of the books to read, a notebook for note taking and journaling, pens, pencils and basic art supplies.  

Handouts, instructions, activity sheets and other information will be sent via email.

There will be recommended assignments, outings and activities to do together as a family.

Space Class Meets on Thursdays, beginning February 1, 2:30-3:30 pm

February 1,8,15, 22, 29

March 7, 14, 21, 28

April 4, 11, 18, 25

May 2, 9,16

Total sessions: 16

Hidden Figures for young readers by Margot Lee Shetterly

The uplifting, amazing true story--a New York Times bestseller This edition of Margot Lee Shetterly's acclaimed book is perfect for young readers. It's the powerful story of four African-American female mathematicians at NASA who helped achieve some of the greatest moments in our space program. Before John Glenn orbited the earth, or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as "human computers" used pencils, slide rules, and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space.This book brings to life the stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, who lived through the Civil Rights era, the Space Race, the Cold War, and the movement for gender equality, and whose work forever changed the face of NASA and the country.

What is NASA? by Sarah Fabiny  The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, better known as NASA, began in 1958. With its creation, the United States hoped to ensure it won the space race against the Soviet Union. Author Sarah Fabiny describes the origins of NASA, the launching of the Apollo program that landed the first human on the moon, and the many missions and discoveries that have taken place since then. NASA has a rich history and still plays an important role in uncovering the mysteries of the universe. Readers are sure to get sucked into this book.

Chasing Space by Leland Melvin

"In Chasing Space, Leland Melvin tackles stupendous obstacles with dogged determination, showing you what is indeed possible in life—if you believe." —Neil deGrasse Tyson, author of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry and Welcome to the Universe.

Winner of the 2019 Grand Canyon Reader Award for Tween Non-Fiction

Meet Leland Melvin—football star, NASA astronaut, and professional dream chaser.

In this inspiring memoir, adapted from the simultaneous version for adults, young readers will get to learn about Leland Melvin’s remarkable life story, from being drafted by the Detroit Lions to bravely orbiting our planet in the International Space Station to writing songs with will.i.am, working with Serena Williams, and starring in top-rated television shows like The Dog Whisperer, Top Chef, and Child Genius.

My Journey to the Stars (Step into Reading) By: Scott Kelly

ASA astronaut Scott Kelly was the first to spend an entire year in space! Discover his awe-inspiring journey in this fascinating picture book memoir (the perfect companion to his adult book Endurance) that takes readers from Scott’s childhood as an average student to his record-breaking year among the stars.

Scott Kelly wasn’t sure what he wanted to be when he grew up. He struggled in school and often got in trouble with his twin brother, Mark.

Then one day Scott discovered a book about test pilots and astronauts that set him on a new path.This story of an ordinary boy who grew up to do extraordinary things is perfect for children, fans of Scott’s adult book Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery, aspiring astronauts, and anyone who has ever tried to defy the odds. It will amaze and inspire you.