When making an introduction about space, familiarize students with common terms. Provide definitions of words such as space (a region beyond Earth's atmosphere), spacecraft (a vehicle to be launched into space) astronauts (pilots of a spacecraft) and planets (a celestial body that orbits the sun). Excite children with topics such as Martians and the possibility of life on other planets. Tell students that the presence of water in a planet's atmosphere is essential for life.
The tools of astronomy are essential in understanding where people get their knowledge about space. Accordingly, tell students about the importance of scientific tools such as lenses and telescopes and discuss the work of important scientists such as Galileo. Also, provide students with a brief history of astronomy, mentioning the ancient Maya developing a 365-day calendar in 550 B.C., Ptolemy theorizing that all objects in space orbit the Earth in 150 A.D. and Nicolaus Copernicus proving that all planets orbit the sun in 1543.
Lessons on the planets of the solar system will allow students to gain an understanding about the solar system. Begin the lesson by telling them about the vastness of distances in space. Tell them about the stars and that the sun is actually a star. Provide them with a description of each planet, including the planet's size, order and key characteristics. Start with Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, and then go further away from the sun. To engage students, ask small groups to develop a presentation on a planet in the solar system.
A lesson on space exploration should appeal to most students. Tell them about the history of space exploration, including the 1957 launch of Sputnik, the first satellite made by people, and the first manned landing on the moon in 1969 by Neil Armstrong. Also tell your students about the different types of spaceships that have been launched into space. Also, describe the current American space programs, including the shuttle program.