THIS IS A ONE-SEMESTER COURSE.

Humans are natural explorers. From the beginning of time, people have explored the lands and waters on Earth, but they have always wanted to explore space. With the invention of the telescope, we’ve been better able to understand the solar system. And ever since we found a way to leave planet Earth, we’ve learned so much more information—a feat that wasn’t even possible until the second half of the twentieth century.

In this course, students will learn about:

• The history of space exploration, starting with Sputnik
• The Space Race, including the United States’ and other countries’ involvement in it
• The key people who have made space exploration possible

Class Meetings: Thursdays, 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Dates: January 15 – May 14, 2026

Student Expectations: Students will participate in hands-on activities, pursue opportunities for research, collaborate with other students, and engage in class discussions. The amount of time spent on each topic will be determined by the students’ interests and prior knowledge.

Student Support: The instructor is available via email.

Feedback/Assessment: The instructor will provide a letter grade or written or verbal commentary on the homework and all completed classwork.

Materials/Supplies: Students will need a variety of materials in order to complete the hands-on projects, including:

– Pencils, pens, colored pencils, markers, or crayons
– Lined paper, copy paper, and construction paper
– Poster board
– Scissors, tape, glue
– A few canisters of Play-Doh or something equivalent
– A ruler
– A yardstick or meter stick or tape measure

More items may be added during the course, but they will be easy to obtain.