Lots & Lots of Roaring Rockets

Gr 4 Up—Although informative and well organized, this video might not engage viewers. The main menu has three options: "Space Adventures" (39 min.), which includes the base material and is the most valuable in the classroom; "Space Songs" (21 min.); and bonus videos, which contain one much older chapter about Research Project X-15 (27 min.). "Space Adventures" is divided into seven topics, including on projects Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. The narrator clearly defines the purpose of each in simple terms. For example, Mercury's goal was to place a man in space and get him home safely; Gemini had astronauts spending more time in space, learning about the craft; and Apollo's aim was to put a man on the moon. Interesting facts are provided, such as there are more than 2500 satellites currently orbiting the earth, and clearly written text boxes on the lower third of the screen provide additional facts. The only concern may be the lack of creativity in the presentation. Although the video of rockets taking off and the many views of space are well chosen, the format of only narration and video may challenge younger viewers. However, there is value to the material presented, so teachers may choose to present a section at a time with discussion in between.—Stephanie Farnlacher, Trace Crossings School, Hoover, AL