Moon Day

"Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed".  July 21 is Moon Day! Moon Day celebrates the first man on the moon. On July 21, 1969, Neil Armstrong took his very first steps on the moon's surface, in an area known as the Sea of Tranquility. Armstrong allegedly put his left foot down and declared "that's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". Whether or not you believe that the whole thing was a hoax filmed at a Hollywood studio, everyone has to admit that the event is a monumental part of history and science. Unfortunately, because of its summer date, most school teachers do not get the chance to teach their students about Moon Day. That means it's up to you, parents, to educate your kids about Moon Day.

Ideas for Moon Day Activities

• Make moon-shaped cookies!  If you want to get really fancy, you could buy a circular cookie cutter  (for full moons) and a crescent-moon shaped cookie cutter. Call it a new moon when there are no more cookies left!
• Entertain kids during their summer vacations by having them make moon collages. Give them some poster board,  construction paper,  and a few old magazines and let them create a collage about what the moon means to them. Don't forget the glue sticks! 
• Rent a space-themed movie. Okay, it's a stretch, I know, but what other time could you get away with watching the overly dramatic "Armageddon"?
• Make a space mobile. Grab some paint,  Styrofoam balls,  and some old metal hangers and create a model of our solar system or get creative and make your own universe!
• Take a trip to the science museum! If you want to learn lots about space, a museum is the place to go. Try to find a hands-on science museum in your area for the kids.
• Have the kids put on a play and re-enact the first landing on the moon. Let them get a little silly and dress the family dog up as a Martian. They'll probably remember the activity for a long, long time.
• Learn about gravity. Maybe even let them jump on their beds, just this once (with your supervision, of course), and pretend they are weightless.
• Have older kids? Fill them in on the great "Space Race" in the 1960s between the Soviet Union and the United States.

List of Space-Themed Movies

• Lost in Space -- Based on the 1960s television series.
• Deep Impact -- Similar to Armageddon in topic, this movie deals more with the average person coping with the end of the world due to a giant astroid headed for Earth.
• Mission to Mars -- A fairly realistic look at a trip to Mars. Decent special effects.
• Forbidden Planet -- 1950s classic sci-fi. Leslie Nielsen stars.
• Armageddon -- A very Hollywood-esque approach to the end of the world, focusing on the astronauts, regular guys recruited from their blue-collar jobs to stop an astroid headed for Earth. Bring a box of tissues. 
• The Right Stuff -- A classic movie about the men who risk their lives to navigate through space. Progresses through the Mercury Space Program.
• 2001: A Space Odyssey -- A mysterious movie (with a sequel that explains many of those mysteries) featuring a controlling computer, disappearing astronauts, and a mysterious black monolith.
• Apollo 13 -- Tom Hanks stars in this movie about a three-man mission going horribly wrong after an explosion harms their spacecraft between Earth and the Moon. Definitely bring tissues.
• Star Trek movies -- If you are only going to see one, try out Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. It features the very first digital special effects in a major film (when they explain the creation of the new world).
• Star Wars movies -- George Lucas creates some of the most creative and captivating space theme films.

External Links

• Suite101.com--- Top 10 Space Movies of all time (according to Suite 101 at least).
• FamilyCrafts.About.com-- Tips and ideas for celebrating Moon Day with some arts & crafts.
• BBC.co.uk-- Thorough information on the first landing on the moon.
• TeacherPlanet.com-- Ideas for Moon Day-themed lesson plans for teachers or parents.
• NASA.gov-- Lots of scientific information on the moon and current plans for space travel/observation.