The last time the US space agency NASA sent astronauts to the Moon was all the way back in 1972, more than 50 years ago. Now, NASA is laying the groundwork to land the next man (and the first woman) on the Moon, as part of its Artemis programme. This resources pack includes an article from The Week Junior magazine, along with a sheet of activities designed to get children thinking, talking and writing about what the story means to them.
Oracy
This voyage to the moon will cost over £60,000,000,000. Isn’t that a colossal waste of money? With so much poverty in our world, wouldn’t it be better spent on helping people in need? If we’re struggling to look after our own planet, do we really deserve to be let loose on the rest of the solar system? Or has it always been important for humans to explore? If our dream is to land on Mars, shouldn’t we dedicate all our efforts to making that dream a reality, no matter what the cost might be? In any case, hasn’t our thirst for new knowledge always led to invaluable technological advances whether we were seeking them or not? What do you think?
Writing skills
Write a job advertisement seeking people to be astronauts on the first human mission to Mars. As well as saying what an exciting opportunity it would be, include sections describing what the role would involve and what qualifications and personal qualities they would need.
Or
Penguins live near Earth’s south pole. Imagine what sort of beings might live near the Moon’s ‘mysterious’ south pole. Create a page for a wildlife information book about a lunar penguin. As well as writing an introduction, draw and label a picture of your creature, giving a brief explanation of each feature and outlining how it would help it survive in that harsh habitat.
Investigate
What do we mean by ‘the dark side of the Moon’? Write a brief explanation of what it is and how it remains ‘dark’. Challenge: has anyone actually seen it? If so, can you say who and when?
Find the entire series of Topical Tuesday resources to download in our Topical Tuesdays collection.
What is The Week Junior?
The Week Junior magazine looks at current affairs and helps children make sense of the world, provides context and clarity to c
omplex issues, improves general knowledge and encourages discussion and debate.
To find out more about The Week Junior and to download its free resources, please go to The Week Junior website.