During the Apollo program of the 1960s and '70s, NASA sent nine missions to the Moon. Six of them landed astronauts safely on the surface, the only times humans have visited another world.
July 20, 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of the first humans landing on the Moon on July 20, 1969 as part of NASA's Apollo 11 lunar mission.
The NISE Network has compiled the following resources to help plan your event.
Special websites for Apollo's 50th Anniversary
- NASA Space STEM Forum anniversary resources
https://spacestem.nasa.gov - NASA Apollo anniversary resources
https://www.nasa.gov/specials/apollo50th/ - NASA Apollo anniversary resources
https://science.nasa.gov/toolkits/apollo-anniversary - Lunar Planetary Institute resources
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/apollo50/ - NASA Museum Alliance resources
https://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/apollo-50th-resources
(you must register to access NASA Museum Alliance resources)
NASA Moon and Apollo program online resources
- NASA Science – Earth’s Moon
https://www.nasa.gov/moon
In depth: https://moon.nasa.gov/about/in-depth/ - NASA Science – Solar System Explore – Earth’s Moon
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/earths-moon/overview/ - NASA and International Moon Missions Timeline
https://moon.nasa.gov/exploration/moon-missions/ - NASA Apollo Program
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/index.html - NASA Apollo 11 mission
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/apollo-11.html - NASA Apollo 11 Moonwalk Montage - July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap For Mankind
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/apollo11.html - NASA Explore Moon to Mars - plans and missions or exploring Moon and Mars
https://nasa.gov/moon2mars - International Observe the Moon Night resources
https://moon.nasa.gov/observe
What Was the Apollo Program?
- NASA Knows! (Grades 5-8) series
https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-was-apollo-program-58.html
NASA Knows! (Grades K-4) series
https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/what-was-apollo-program-k4.html - Summary of the purpose of each of the different Apollo missions (Apollo 1 - Apollo 17)
https://airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/topics/apollo/apollo-program/
Hands-on activities and Games
- NISE Network hands-on moon activities and the year of the Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkit year is noted below:
Gaming
- NISE Network has created a collaborative game where players work together to solve a series of challenges about living and doing research on the Moon.
Additional Activities
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NISE Network Earth & Space toolkits of hands-on activities
digital versions of toolkits are available as a free download:- 2017 Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkit: www.nisenet.org/earthspacekit-2017
- 2018 Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkit: www.nisenet.org/earthspacekit-2018
- 2019 Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkit: www.nisenet.org/earthspacekit-2019
- 2020 Explore Science: Earth & Space toolkit: www.nisenet.org/earthspacekit-2020
- More NISE Network hands-on activities
- Molecules in Motion explores how materials behave and change in a vacuum (included in 2018 Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry kit)
- Rocket Reactions (included in 2018 Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry kit)
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Exploring Nano & Society - Space Elevator (included in 2017 NanoDays kit)
- NASA and more hands-on activities
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Make a Moon Phases Calendar and Calculator from NASA JPL
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PBS Kids Design Squad engineering challenges - NASA and Design Squad® team up to bring kids in your school or afterschool program six hands-on challenges (grades 3-12)
https://pbskids.org/designsquad/pdf/parentseducators/DS_NASA_on_the_moon_complete.pdf -
Lunar Planetary Institute (LPI) has several hands on activities
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/resources/s_system/moon.shtml -
STARnet library program has compiled a list of hands on activities
http://clearinghouse.starnetlibraries.org/125-moon -
NASA eClips Guide Lites - "Crater Maps" and "Distance to the Moon" (please see versions for different ages)
https://nasaeclips.arc.nasa.gov/teachertoolbox/guidelites -
Night Sky Network activities and printable take home materials
https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/download-view.cfm?Doc_ID=639
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Online Workshops for educators
- NISE Network Online Workshop: Celebrating the Moon, Our Nearest Neighbor in Space (October 2018 - Recorded)
- NISE Network Online Workshop: Big or Small, Make Your Apollo 50th Anniversary Celebration Events a Moonshot! - (May 14, 2019 Recorded)
- NASA Museum Alliance workshop Preparing for the Apollo 50th Anniversaries (July 2018 - Recorded)
(you must register to access NASA Museum Alliance resources) - NASA Museum Alliance - more recorded workshops
(you must register to access NASA Museum Alliance resources)
Planning your anniversary event
- Collaborators and subject matter experts can be a great addition to your event - learn more about finding astronomy volunteers: Solar System Ambassadors Program, Night Sky Network, and Astronomy Ambassadors
- Earth & Space event planning guide
- NISE Network Online Workshops (recorded)
- NISE Network Online Workshop: Celebrating the Moon, Our Nearest Neighbor in Space (October 2018 - Recorded)
- NISE Network Online Workshop: Big or Small, Make Your Apollo 50th Anniversary Celebration Events a Moonshot! - (May 14, 2019 Recorded)
NASA Apollo anniversary event map
- Event map
https://spacestem.nasa.gov/events - Submit your event at either of these two locations:
https://spacestem.nasa.gov/events/submit
https://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/Advertise/Form (must be logged in to Museum Alliance website)
Volunteer and staff orientation slides
- Presentation Powerpoint Slides: NISE Network overview slides to familiarize volunteers and staff about the Moon landing, Apollo missions, and ongoing lunar scientific research (included in the NISE Network 2019 Earth & Space toolkit)
http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/moon-nasa-going-back-and-looking-forward-presentation
- Video - Apollo landing sites visualization video produced by NASA's Moon Trek team (included in the NISE Network 2019 Earth & Space toolkit). Closed Captions are now available, see the video's description on Vimeo for more information on how to access them.
https://vimeo.com/317054974 - Night Sky Network amateur astronomer slides from Astronomical Society of the Pacific "To the Moon" presentation
https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/download-view.cfm?Doc_ID=639
Downloadable anniversary logos
- NASA Apollo 50th Anniversary logo
https://images.nasa.gov/details-APOLLO%2050th_FULL%20COLOR_300DPI.html - NASA Apollo 50 Anniversary logo and style guide folder
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lbpzz72w2pr68tq/AABTsGMXPNH2T08Mh4TAlQXMa?dl=0 - About the NASA Apollo 50th Anniversary logo:
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-releases-logo-to-mark-apollos-50th-anniversary - From the Year of Human Exploration:
An entire list of graphics files including a ready-made powerpoints and templates, 60th and 50th seals, along with a video feature.
Photos and images of the Moon
- NASA moon gallery
https://moon.nasa.gov/galleries/images - Lunar Images and Maps
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/lunar_images/ - Panoramic Lunar surface images (Apollo 11-17)
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/apollopanoramas/ - Iconic photos and spacecraft diagrams from the Apollo missions (Apollo 1 - Apollo 17)
https://airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/topics/apollo/apollo-program/images/
Printable take home handouts for the public
- Night Sky Network Exploring Moon Phases cards - Print these and fold in half for an easy to use, informative lunar observing resource. https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/docs/MoonPhaseCardsASP.pdf
- Night Sky Network Skywatcher's Guide to the Moon to identify features on the moon
https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/download-view.cfm?Doc_ID=331 - NASA printable Moon bookmarks
https://spacestem.nasa.gov/printables - NASA's "Forward to the Moon with Artemis" activity booklet
https://www.nasa.gov/exploreractivities/
Posters
- NASA printable Moon posters
https://spacestem.nasa.gov/printables - "To the Moon and Beyond," "How Our Moon Formed," and "Our Moon in a New Light: posters from the Lunar Planetary Institute (LPI)
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/moonPosters/ - Earth Rise and Blue Marble posters from the Lunar Planetary Institute (LPI)
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/apollo50/ - NASA Moon posters and graphics:
https://moon.nasa.gov/galleries/graphics - NASA Solar System Exploration Poster set
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/925/solar-system-and-beyond-poster-set/ - NASA Explore Moon to Mars posters
https://nasa.gov/moon2mars - Augmented Reality (AR) printable posters or sheet and downloadable free app (set includes Moon landscape)
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/AR/?fbclid=IwAR2gY6T-9m7pTCCIAL-khv1BPg_sru12W… - Destination Moon poster exhibition from Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). The posters are available in either print or digital download. You may reserve a printed copy of the poster exhibition, or immediately download high-resolution digital files.
https://www.sites.si.edu/s/topic/0TO1Q000000MBVDWA4/destination-moon-the-apollo-11-mission-poster-exhibition
Presentation Slides
- Presentation Powerpoint Slides: NISE Network overview slides to familiarize volunteers and staff about the Moon landing, Apollo missions, and ongoing lunar scientific research (included in the NISE Network 2019 Earth & Space toolkit) - these may be used for professional development and training as well as with public audiences
http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/moon-nasa-going-back-and-looking-forward-presentation
Multimedia and interactive resources
- Moon Trek: Explore all the details of the Moon, generate 3D printed models of the landscape, and download the highest resolution images available
- NASA's Eyes on the Solar System: Explore our solar system including our Moon! Using real trajectory data you can recreate famous moments in solar system exploration, or preview exciting adventures yet to come.
- Explore landing sites and geography of the moon: https://moon.nasa.gov
- Interactive Maps (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC))
https://quickmap.lroc.asu.edu
Videos
- NASA videos about the Moon and Apollo missions
https://moon.nasa.gov/galleries/videos - Video - Apollo landing sites visualization video produced by NASA's Moon Trek team (included in the NISE Network 2019 Earth & Space toolkit)
https://vimeo.com/317054974 - Videos of Lunar Landing sites (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC))
http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/images/videos - NASA What's Up video special on the Moon landing anniversary - July 2019
https://youtu.be/E_A-hSm1RaI - Fiske Planetarium videos
https://www.colorado.edu/fiske/about-us/fiske-productions
Free higher resolution files available for download to planetariums- "NASA Explorations episode5 Apollos Legacy: Rocks from the Moon" (8 minutes)
- "Moon Dome" short loop showing full Moon to new Moon (2 minutes)
- "Max Goes to the Moon" planetarium show (35 minutes)
- NASA eClips video - Our World: Moon Phases (3 minutes) (Grades K-5)
https://nasaeclips.arc.nasa.gov/video/ourworld/our-world-moon-phases - NASA eClips video - Our World: The Moon's Impact on Earth (3 minutes) (Grades K-5)
https://nasaeclips.arc.nasa.gov/video/ourworld/our-world-the-moons-impact-on-earth - NASA eClips video - Launchpad: Apollo 11 - Challenges of Landing on the Moon (6 minutes)
https://nasaeclips.arc.nasa.gov/video/launchpad/launchpad-apollo-11-challenges-of-landing-on-the-moon - NASA eClips video - Our World: Lunar Rock - Lunar Sample Laboratory Facility in Houston, Texas (4.5 minutes)
https://nasaeclips.arc.nasa.gov/video/ourworld/our-world-lunar-rock - Apollo 11 Video Library
https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/video11.html
Films
- PBS "Earth Rise" film - Apollo 8
https://www.pbs.org/pov/earthrise/ - PBS NOVA "Apollo's Daring Mission"
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/apollos-daring-mission - Apollo 11 documentary (in theaters)
https://www.apollo11movie.com
Exhibition - Posters
- Destination Moon poster exhibition from Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). The posters are available in either print or digital download. You may reserve a printed copy of the poster exhibition, or immidately download high-resolution digital files.
https://www.sites.si.edu/s/topic/0TO1Q000000MBVDWA4/destination-moon-the-apollo-11-mission-poster-exhibition
Planetarium Shows
- From the Moon to Mars - Apollo 50th Planetarium Show
Free, 30 - 45 minutes, downloadable images, media packet, and presenter script for download
Format: Live, interactive curriculum and Digital Sky 2.5 buttons
Software: Digital Sky, script, and general media
https://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/content/moon-mars-planetarium-show
(you must register to access NASA Museum Alliance resources) - Fiske Planetarium videos
Free higher resolution files available for download to planetariums
https://www.colorado.edu/fiske/about-us/fiske-productions - "NASA Explorations episode5 Apollos Legacy: Rocks from the Moon" (8 minutes)
- "Moon Dome" short loop showing full Moon to new Moon (2 minutes)
- "Max Goes to the Moon" planetarium show (35 minutes)
- More fee-based planetarium Moon shows
https://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/apollo-50th-resources
(you must register to access NASA Museum Alliance resources) - More fee-based planetarium shows
https://www.ips-planetarium.org/page/fulldomemasters
NASA Visualizations of the Moon and Apollo program
- Video - Apollo landing sites visualization video produced by NASA's Moon Trek team (included in the NISE Network 2019 Earth & Space toolkit)
https://vimeo.com/317054974 - Revisiting The Moon Landing
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11679 - Tour of the Moon 4K Redux
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4619 - Staring Into Darkness (NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio)
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11230 - Peeking Into Lunar Pits (NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio)
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=11612 - Earthrise: The 45th Anniversary (NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio)
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4129
Historical Image and Videos Collections of the Apollo program
- Apollo to the Moon
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/apollo-to-the-moon/online/ - The Apollo Program
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/topics/apollo/apollo-program/ - Apollo 11 Image Library
https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/images11.html - Apollo 11 Video Library
https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/video11.html - Apollo 11 Lunar Surface Journal
https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/a11.html - Catalog of Apollo Lunar Surface Geological Sampling Tools and Containers
https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/tools/Welcome.html
Books for Story Times and Programs
- Breakfast Moon picture book by Meg Grower and illustrated by David Barker (book was included in the Explore Science: Earth & Space 2019 toolkit)
Thanks to STARnet library project for compiling this list of Our Moon books to support educational programs, you can also see a list of more STEM books
- Happy Birthday, Moon Asch, F. (2014). Aladdin.
- Science Adventures with Max the Dog Series Bennett, Jeffrey (2008-2015). Big Kid Science. Grades 2-4; fiction
- Faces of the Moon Crelin, B. (2009) Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. Grades 1 – 4
- Moon Base Alpha Series Gibbs, Stuart (2013-2016). Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Grades 3-7; fiction
- The Moon and how to observe it Grego, P. (2016). Firefly Books. (ISBN-13: 978-1770857155) Appropriate for older youth and adults
- A Moon of My Own Rustgi, Jennifer (2016). Dawn Publications (ISBN-13: 978-1584695738) Grades PreK- 3.
- Moon: a Peek-Through Picture Book Teckentrup, B. (2018). Random House Children’s Books.
- Phrases of the Moon Lewis, J. Patrick. 2018. [S.I.]: Creative Co.
- Hello to You, Moon Morgan, Sally. 2018. [S.I.] Little Hare
Library resources
- A Universe of Stories 2019 Summer Learning Program
http://www.starnetlibraries.org/universe-of-stories/
Visitor stories - oral history project
- NASA invites you to contribute to an oral history project about the Moon exploration and includes a list of suggested questions: https://www.nasa.gov/apollostories
3D images of lunar and meteorite samples
- A virtual library for exploration and research of NASA's space rock collections
https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/astromaterials3d/
3D printing resources
- 3D printable lunar models including Apollo landing sites
https://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/search/lunar - Custom 3D print files can be generated using the NASA Moon Trek; users can draw bounding boxes around any areas of interest to generate output files for 3D printing of desired surface features
https://trek.nasa.gov/moon/
instructions: https://trek.nasa.gov (choose "3D printing" from menu at the bottom of the screen
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
- NASA Moon Trek Favorite Fly Alongs:
NASA Moon Trek can be used with Google Cardboard of VR Goggles- Virtual Reality Library: NASA Solar System Treks has developed a set of favorite fly-alongs including Apollo landing sites on the Moon and possible future landing sites on the Moon
- Go to https://trek.nasa.gov and scroll down to "Virtual Reality Library"
- Instructions: Watch the video of how to use QR codes with Trek Virtual Reality and find links to the "Virtual Reality Library" of tours
- NASA Moon Trek Custom Virtual Reality tours can be created
NASA Moon Trek can be used with Google Cardboard of VR Goggles- https://trek.nasa.gov/moon/
- Instructions: Open the Tools panel to draw a path to float along with full 360 views. You can also watch a video about using QR codes, watch the short video below to see how it works with Trek Virtual Reality: https://trek.nasa.gov
- Augmented Reality (AR) printable posters or sheet and downloadable free app (set includes Moon landscape)
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/AR/?fbclid=IwAR2gY6T-9m7pTCCIAL-khv1BPg_sru12W…
Snoopy - Peanuts - Charlie Brown connection
In May 1969, Apollo 10 astronauts traveled all the way to the Moon for one final checkout before the lunar landing attempt. Because the mission required the lunar module to skim the Moon's surface to within 50,000 feet and "snoop around" scouting the Apollo 11 landing site, the crew named the lunar module "Snoopy." The Apollo command module was labeled "Charlie Brown." There are some new resources you may want to use for your events:
- Lesson Plans Grades K-5 and worksheets (free access)
http://ymiclassroom.com/lesson-plans/peanuts-nasa/ - NASA Museum Alliance resources held a February 2019 webinar and has posted presentation available for download about Peanuts assets: https://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/peanuts
(you must register to access NASA Museum Alliance resources) - To request more information about getting the Peanuts Worldwide imagery, email snoopyinspace@peanuts.com
Student challenge - Apollo Next Giant Leap Student Challenge
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Apollo Next Giant Leap Student Challenge (ANGLeS Challenge)
Open to students in grades 5-12 across the United States and territories, the event challenges student teams to recreate the Apollo 11 moon landing using a drone and a LEGO Mindstorm robot.
https://nwessp.org/apollo50/