Free unit study for grades 4–8 covering rockets, space flight, and astronauts! This free 27-page download from the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is based on the flight of Liberty Bell 7:
Liberty Bell 7 was launched atop a Mercury-Redstone rocket on July 21, 1961. The flight lasted 15 minutes 30 seconds and reached an altitude of 108 nautical miles above Earth. Liberty Bell 7 splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean after a successful mission but, before Gus Grissom was ready to exit the spacecraft, the hatch blew open and the capsule began to fill with water. Rescue teams were able to save Gus, but Liberty Bell 7 was too heavy for helicopters to lift from the water and it sank to the bottom of the ocean. After a 14-year search that began in 1986, Liberty Bell 7 was located on the floor of the Atlantic and recovered on July 20 [1999], The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center dismantled, cleaned, and restored the space capsule and put it on display.
After learning the history of the flight, students will work through two hands-on lessons that explore the effort to design and solve problems related to rocket launches and astronauts.
Skills engaged include:
- Investigating.
- Testing.
- Developing.
- Recording data.
- Explaining results.
Students will carry out experiments, and learn more about Gus Grissom who later died during a test of Apollo 1.
We always love these Children’s Museum of Indianapolis units! They include great printables and diagrams that work well for a notebook. The units are colorful, engaging, and include all a tutor/teacher needs to help mentor students through the lessons.
A glossary is included in the back along with additional resources for students and teachers.
Great resource! And free.
Free Resource
Additional Resources
If you enjoy this unit, try these other units from the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis!
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