The Race to Space
Understand how the Cold War ignited a race to conquer space.
Embedded Files
About
About
During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union fought for power. Both nations wanted to be the first to put a person on the moon. In 1955, both countries declared they would send a satellite into orbit. For the next several decades, the race was on to show the world who would be the first to explore - and conquer - space.
Essential Questions
Essential Questions
What was the Space Race?
What new technology helped put both people and objects into space?
What were the most important effects of the Space Race?
Choose a Focus
Choose a Focus
Use the Suggested Activity to learn about your chosen focus in a fun way. Or visit the Activity Library to pick another interactive activity.
Note: Britannica School, BrainPOP, and Kids Discover are provided by Prenda. Make sure you are logged in via Clever.
Use the Suggested Activity to learn about your chosen focus in a fun way. Or visit the Activity Library to pick another interactive activity.
Note: Britannica School, BrainPOP, and Kids Discover are provided by Prenda. Make sure you are logged in via Clever.
Yuri Gagarin ⚒️
Yuri Gagarin ⚒️
Yuri Gagarin was a Soviet cosmonaut who became the first person in space. He orbited the Earth in about an hour and a half - forever cementing his place in history books.
Essential questions:
Who was Yuri Gagarin?
Why was his trip into space so significant?
In what ways was Gagarin a Changemaker?
Suggested Activity: Act It Out
Laika the Dog ⚒️
Laika the Dog ⚒️
The first living thing to orbit Earth was not a person; it was a dog! Her name was Laika. Unfortunately, Laika did not survive the trip. But she helped scientists understand the effects of space on animals . . . and people.
Essential questions:
Who was Laika the dog?
Why was she sent up into space?
Why is she a Changemaker?
Suggested Activity: Be The Teacher
Curricular Connections
Curricular Connections
Continue your learning by choosing one of these related activities.
Continue your learning by choosing one of these related activities.
Related Social Studies Topics
Timeline Challenge
Start a class timeline (or add to an existing timeline) showing important events related to the Race to Space.
Debate
Read this article to debate the statement: Sending animals into space is necessary to keep humans safe.
Create
(Not sure what to do? Write an obituary for Laika the dog!)
Image Attributions
Race to Space banner: various, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia CommonsYuri Gargarin: USSR Post, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsLaika the Dog: scanned by user Neozoon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Page updated
Report abuse