Voyager Mission – Slide Presentation Assignment

Middle School | 8 Slides | Research & Design Project

🚀 Your Mission        Interactive Model     

You are going to create an 8-slide presentation about NASA's Voyager program — one of the greatest space exploration missions in history. You will research the topic, write your own scripts, and design each slide. By the end, you should be able to present this to your class and answer questions about it.

Information Source

📋 Assignment Requirements

• 8 slides total (see topics below)

• Each slide must include:

  • A title

  • 3–5 bullet points of key facts (in your own words — no copying!)

  • At least one image with a caption

  • A speaker note of 4–6 sentences you would say out loud when presenting that slide

• Use reliable sources (NASA.gov, Space.com, encyclopedias)

• Include a sources slide at the end (does not count as one of your 8)

📑 The 8 Slides — Topics & Research Guide

Slide 1: Title Slide

Your title should answer: What is Voyager and why is it historic?

• Come up with a creative title for your presentation

• Write 2–3 sentences introducing what your presentation is about

• Find a striking image of the Voyager spacecraft to set the stage

Slide 2: The Big Idea — Why Launch Voyager?

Research questions to answer:

• What rare event in the late 1970s made the Voyager mission possible?

• What is a "gravity assist" and how did Voyager use it?

• How long would scientists have to wait if they missed this opportunity?

Slide 3: Launch & Spacecraft Design

Research questions to answer:

• When and in what order were Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 launched?

• What scientific instruments did each spacecraft carry?

• How big was each spacecraft, and how was it powered?

Slide 4: Jupiter — The First Giant

Research questions to answer:

• When did Voyager reach Jupiter, and what did it photograph?

• What surprising discoveries were made about Jupiter's moons Io and Europa?

• Why are those moon discoveries still exciting to scientists today?

Slide 5: Saturn and Beyond

Research questions to answer:

• What did Voyager reveal about Saturn's rings that surprised scientists?

• What is Titan, and why is it considered one of the most interesting moons?

• Which planets did Voyager 2 visit that Voyager 1 did not? When?

Slide 6: The Golden Record

Research questions to answer:

• What is the Golden Record and what does it contain?

• Who was involved in creating it, and what was the goal?

• If you were choosing what to include, what would you add and why?

Slide 7: Interstellar Space

Research questions to answer:

• What is the heliopause, and why does crossing it matter?

• When did Voyager 1 enter interstellar space? What about Voyager 2?

• How far away are the Voyager probes today, and are they still communicating with Earth?

Slide 8: Legacy — Why Voyager Still Matters

Your thoughts + research:

• What are the most important scientific discoveries from the Voyager mission?

• What is the "Pale Blue Dot" image, and why is it famous?

• End with your own reflection: what does the Voyager mission mean to you?

🎨 Design Tips

• Keep text minimal on slides — your speaker notes are where the detail lives

• Use high-quality images (NASA offers free-use Voyager photos at nasa.gov)

• Be consistent with fonts, colors, and layout throughout

• Avoid walls of text — if it's too long to read in 5 seconds, trim it

📊 Grading Rubric

Category

Points

All 8 slides completed with required elements - 40

Accuracy of facts and research - 30

Speaker notes are detailed and in your own words - 20

Visual design is clear and engaging - 20

Sources slide with credible references - 10

Total - 100

💬 Discussion Questions

Be ready to answer these when you present:

1. Why was the 1977 planetary alignment such a big deal for NASA?

2. What was the most surprising discovery Voyager made, in your opinion?

3. Why do you think scientists included a Golden Record on the spacecraft?

4. What does the Pale Blue Dot image make you think or feel?

✏️ Bonus Challenge

Design your own Golden Record. What 5 sounds or images would you choose to represent Earth to an alien civilization, and why? What would you leave out, and why?