MOON
"The Moon has always been a source of mystery. In ancient times, people thought it had the powers of a god. Astronomers eventually proved that the brightest object in our nighttime sky was really just a rock satellite. But even then, scientists were not sure what they'd find there. Many fantasized that some new form of life would be discovered. In the 20th century, exploration of the Moon helped. . . "

SUN
"In the grand scheme of things, the Sun is no big deal. It's just another medium-size star in a remote corner of the Milky Way galaxy. There are billions of others in the universe just like it. But to us here on Earth, the Sun is hugely important. Without it, our world would be a frozen rock wandering in space. Among other things, the Sun gives us food, energy, seasons, weather, calendars, flowers,. . . "

TELESCOPES
"On a clear night, thousands of stars can be seen twinkling above Earth. Years ago, people assumed that they knew all there was to know about the sky. Then, in 1608, a Dutch lens maker put two glass lenses inside a metal tube. The device, later named a telescope, made distant objects appear close up. . . . "

EARTH
"Spread out a map of the world. What you see on its depends on the kind of map you have. Does it show cities and countries? Mountains and valleys? Maybe weather patterns? The variety of features is so great that one map just can't handle it all. Earth is part of a nine-planet solar system within the Milky Way galaxy. Its size and location aren't very impressive. We inhabit the third planet. . . "

SPACE EXPLORATION
"Space is so close and yet so far away. It begins where the atmosphere ends - about one hundred miles above Earth's surface. A drive from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to New York City is a longer trip. But space travel presents special problems. In space, there is no air, food, or water. Powerful rockets are needed to break gravity's grip and reach the vacuum of outer space. . . . "

SOLAR SYSTEM
"In the solar system, nothing stands still-- not even you. You and everything else on Earth are traveling up to one thousand miles per hour right now! That's how fast the planet's surface is spinning at the equator. Other planets, moons, and even the Sun itself, spin, too. While they spin, they circle. The Moon circles Earth. Earth circles the Sun. So do other planets, their moons, and asteroids. Some. . . "

PLANETS
"Our solar system consists of a star (the Sun) and the group of planets orbiting it. The planets closest to Earth can be seen in the nighttime sky without a telescope. No two planets are alike, although some share similarities. Mercury, Venus, Mars and Earth are all rocky planets. Much farther from the Sun are the gaseous giants-- Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune."

MOON EXPLORATION
"For decades, science fiction authors have written accounts of humans living on the Moon. Today, these accounts appear to moving from fantasy to reality. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to have astronauts living on the moon by the year 2020."

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

• The International Space Station: An Orbiting Laboratory (High Interest Books). By Devi Nipaul, Children's Press (CT), 2004.
• Space: The Race to the Moon (Adventures on the American Frontiers). By Tom Kemnitz, Royal Fireworks Publishing, 2004.
• Space: Answers to Questions about Voyage and Discovery (Know How Know Why). Top That! Kids, 2004.
• Exploring Space (Britannica Learning Library). By Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica Corporation, 2003.

ADULT BOOKS

• Space Exploration (High Interest Books). By Mark Beyer, Children's Press (CT), 2002.
• Space: The Race to the Moon (Adventures on the American Frontiers). By Tom Kemnitz, Royal Fireworks Publishing Company, 2001.
• Amazing International Space Station. By Yes Mag (Editor), et al., Kids Can Press, 2003.

WEBSITES

• NASA Spacelink: An Aeronautics and Space Resource for Education
  http://spacelink.nasa.gov/
• Jet Propulsion Lab
  http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
• European Space Agency: For Teachers
  http://www.esa.int/esaED/teachers.html
• Boeing: International Space Station
  http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/spacestation/flash.html

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

• NASA Education: Educator Resource Centers by State
  http://education.nasa.gov/about/contacts/ERCN_State_Listing.html
• Smithsonian National Air and Space Musuem
  http://www.nasm.si.edu/