2 min read

Celebrate the Apollo 50th Anniversary With These Educational Events, Activities and Resources

Written by Amelia ChapmanJuly 16, 2019

An Apollo 11 astronaut stands on the Moon and one of the legs of the lunar module can be seen in the corner of the image

Fifty years ago this week, the Apollo 11 astronauts launched on their history-making mission. Saturday, July 20, is the anniversary of that first landing of humans on the Moon; a great milestone to reflect on, as well as an opportunity to look ahead. Read on for some of the ways you can celebrate and learn with NASA!

An audience wears 3-D glasses while in a darkened theater

Go Places

It’s not just science centers that are celebrating the 50th anniversary of humans landing on the Moon. There are events taking place worldwide at libraries, concert halls, baseball stadiums, National Parks, art museums, and on city streets. Find anniversary events near you with this searchable map and calendar.

Sketch of a lunar lander on graph paper with marshmallows, rubber bands and straws scattered around

Do Things

This collection of hands-on activities for all ages will have you throwing water balloons to learn about craters on the Moon, helping actual NASA scientists by mapping the Moon from your own computer, building a model of the Earth-Moon system and seeing what it takes to investigate strange new planets. You can even make your own lunar spacecraft.

The Forward to the Moon With Artemis activity book is a fun way to learn about the Apollo mission that first put people on the Moon and what’s in store for the future. Also, check out these hands-on activities, building challenges and online games!

Focus On the Moon

Love observing the Moon and the rest of the night sky? The Night Sky Network will help you find local astronomy clubs and events. Save the date for International Observe the Moon Night, October 5. If you’re clouded out, you can always make your own Moon to enjoy!

Blue starry background with type that reads Apollo 50 Next Giant Leap

Watch These

NASA TV has a full lineup of Apollo programming. On July 19 at 3 p.m. (EDT), you can watch STEM Forward to the Moon. The half-hour show will feature students enacting simulations of a return to the Moon with NASA’s Artemis program. The accompanying Educator’s Guide has all you need to try the activities from the show at home or in the classroom.

Also fun to watch are vintage recordings from the Apollo program, as well as archived lectures and the kid-friendly “STEM in 30” video series from the National Air And Space Museum.

Scissors, pencils, tape, paper and other materials scattered around. Text overlay reads: Join in July 18, #VirtualMoonshot, A virtual mission to the Moon designed by you! Instagram, Facebook & Twitter

Get Social

Join NASA and educational centers nationwide to build a virtual mission to the Moon on July 18. Follow #VirtualMoonshot on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to take part – or follow along with a host center near you.

Finally, if you’ve wondered what it would have been like to have social media 50 years ago, be sure to follow Relive Apollo 11 for tweets that tell the story of the mission in real time, starting with its July 16 launch!

Explore More

students.

Teachable Moment: Apollo 50th Anniversary

Explore the incredible history of the Apollo missions and find out what's in store for NASA's next mission to the Moon.

students.

Make a Straw Rocket

Create a paper rocket that can be launched from a soda straw – then, modify the design to make the rocket fly farther!

students.

Make an Astronaut Lander

Design and build a lander that will protect two "astronauts" when they touch down.

students.

Make a Cardboard Rover

Build a rubber-band-powered rover that can scramble across a room.

students.

Make a Moon Phases Calendar and Calculator

Like a decoder wheel for the Moon, this calendar will show you where and when to see the Moon and every moon phase throughout the year!

educators.

Observing the Moon

Students identify the Moon’s location in the sky and record their observations over the course of the moon-phase cycle in a journal.

educators.

Moon Phases

Students learn about the phases of the moon by acting them out.

educators.

Whip Up a Moon-Like Crater

Whip up a moon-like crater with baking ingredients as a demonstration for students.

educators.

Modeling the Earth-Moon System

Students learn about scale models and distance by creating a classroom-size Earth-Moon system.

About the Author

Amelia Chapman

STEM Informal Education Specialist, NASA/JPL Edu

Amelia Chapman has more than 20 years of experience as an informal educator. Working in a range of science, history, art and cultural museums, she has helped audiences of all ages learn from real objects and direct, hands-on experiences. Now at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, she helps run the Museum Alliance community of practice, providing professional development and NASA resources to informal educators who want to use the excitement of space exploration and scientific discovery to inspire new generations.