River of Words
Action Jackson
When Marian Sang
Emma's Rug
Alvin Ailey
That’s one small step for man—one giant leap for mankind.
— Neil Armstrong, July 20, 1969 (during the Apollo 11 moonwalk)
When Neil Armstrong uttered his famous remark—after becoming the first human to walk on the moon—over half a billion people around the world were gathered around their televisions, watching a live broadcast of the historic moment in space exploration. Their collective fascination with outer space was not unique to that moment in time, but rather a continuation of a fascination that has driven people to study and explore outer space since the earliest of times.
Our understanding of outer space has changed drastically over time, but at each period of understanding, the commonly held beliefs about outer space have shaped our perceptions of Earth and our ideas about our place in the universe. Having a strong knowledge of the history of these understandings will deepen students’ knowledge of human history, provide an awareness of how scientific understanding can change and deepen, and serve as the basis for forming opinions about modern-day space exploration.