Activities & More

Space Junk

Blast Off!

Space was the place in 1981, the year that Regards to the Man in the Moon was published. While the Star Wars movies made space travel America’s favorite fantasy, the new Space Shuttle program made it a reality. Even without Han Solo, the astronauts made history! In 1983 alone, Sally Ride, a 29-year-old physicist, became the first American woman and youngest person in space, and Challenger engineer Guion (Guy) Bluford was the first African-American in space.

Link About It

• Learn more about space: NASA and Science Kids
• Build a big rocket ship: PBS Parents
• Space station activities: Preschool Express

Junk & Imagination

Dr. Martin Pope remembers the making of Regards to the Man in the Moon

 

Trash or Treasure?

Louie’s father Barney says that what people call “junk” plus a little imagination “can take you right out of this world.” Can you match some of the objects from “back then” with what they might look like today? (Find the answers at the bottom of the page.)

Back Then

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Today

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

 

Answers:

1.b. Phonograph, circa 1906 / iHome with iPod
2.e. Clock with Roman numerals / digital clock
3.d. Wringer washing machine / front-load model
4.c. Telephone, circa 1920s / smartphone
5.a. Wagon wheel / automobile tire