The Space Race
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can analyse the events of the Space Race.
Key learning points
- The Space Race was a competition between the US and USSR in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Security and prestige both motivated the Space Race.
- The USSR launched the first satellite, Sputnik, in 1957.
- Soviet successes in space triggered fears that the US was falling behind.
- US astronauts landed on the moon in 1969.
Keywords
Satellite - in this context, an object that moves around a planet in space
Orbit - the circular journey that a spacecraft or planet makes around the sun, the moon, or another planet
Prestige - respect and admiration people feel for someone else, often because they are successful
ICBM - short for inter-continental ballistic missile; a missile that can deliver bombs to hit targets over 5500 km away
Common misconception
The USA was in the lead throughout the Space Race.
The USSR beat the USA to launch the first satellite into orbit and to put both the first man and first woman in space.
Teacher tip
Ask students at the end of the lesson who 'won' the Space Race. Get students to define specific criteria (i.e. is it based on biggest individual achievement, consistency of achievements, etc?).
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word. is an action or system intended to prevent or discourage someone from doing something.
Q2.Who was the first country to develop nuclear weapons?
Q3.How many times more powerful were hydrogen bombs (H-bombs) compared to atom bombs (A-bombs)?
Q4.What was the name of the theory which suggested that nuclear weapons made war between the superpowers unlikely?
Q5.Write the missing word. In the late 1950s, some US officials became worried that a gap existed between the USA and USSR.
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is an object that moves around a planet in space called?
Q2.What was the name of the first woman in space?
Q3.Which country sent the first man into space?
Q4.Which event is usually considered the end of the Space Race?
Q5.Who said the following in 1961: "the dramatic achievements in space have an impact on the minds of men everywhere, who are attempting to make a determination of which road they should take"?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: The Space Race, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: The Space Race, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Wider Depth Study - Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972 unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.