In President Kennedy's speech to Congress on May 25, 1961, he expressed concern that the United States was falling behind the Soviet Union in technology and prestige. He challenged the U.S. to put a man on the moon before the end of the decade.
On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 launched from the Kennedy Space Center. Four days later, Neil Armstrong became the first person to step onto the moon and proclaimed, "That's one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind."
National Moon Day (July 20) commemorates this historic moment, which NASA called "the single greatest technological achievement of all time." Join the celebration with these fun ideas to Eat, Make, Read, and Watch!
• EAT • |
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1.) Our Rocket Fruit Kabobs are simply fresh fruit on a skewer.
2.) Star Biscuit Bites are a simple snack that starts with pre-made biscuit dough.
3.) Homemade Moon Pies are fun for the whole family to bake together — and delicious to eat together too!
4.) Or use a star-shaped cookie cutter on watermelon slices!
• MAKE • |
1.) Homemade Moon Sand is a great sensory activity for all ages.
2.) For toddlers and preschoolers, make a soda bottle rocket ship, a splatter paint galaxy, or an Earth squish painting.
3.) For older kids, make a film canister rocket, a hovercraft, or moon dust.
• READ • |
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The following books are available to borrow from the Douglas County Libraries. Click the book's title to make a Hold Request.
BABIES/TODDLERS:
- Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
- Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
- The Moon Shines Down by Margaret Wise Brown
- Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle
PRESCHOOL/KINDERGARTEN:
- If You Decide to Go to the Moon by Faith McNulty
- Long Night Moon by Cynthia Rylant
- The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons
- Moon! Earth's Best Friend by Stacy McAnulty
- There's No Place Like Space by Tish Rabe
EARLY ELEMENTARY:
- Go for the Moon: A Rocket, A Boy, and the First Moon Landing by Chris Gall
- Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly
- The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System by Joanna Cole
- Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca
- One Giant Leap by Robert Burleigh
OLDER ELEMENTARY:
- A Child's Introduction to the Night Sky by Michael Driscoll
- Destination Moon: The Remarkable and Improbable Voyage of Apollo 11 by Richard Maurer
- Moonbound: Apollo 11 and the Dream of Spaceflight by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm
- Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson by Katherine Johnson
• WATCH • |
 WALL•E ©Disney•Pixar 2008. All rights reserved. |
The following movies are available to borrow from the Douglas County Libraries. Click the movie's title to make a Hold Request.
RATED G
- 2001: A Space Odyssey – Sci-Fi Adventure (1968)
- Space Buddies – Family Adventure (2009)
- WALL•E – Animated Adventure (2008)
RATED PG
- Apollo 13 – Historical Adventure (1995)
- Despicable Me – Animated Comedy (2010)
- Hidden Figures – Biographical Drama (2016)
- In the Shadow of the Moon – Documentary (2007)
- The Right Stuff – Biographical Adventure (1983)
RATED PG-13
- Armageddon – Sci-Fi Adventure (1998)
- First Man – Biographical Drama (2018)
- Guardians of the Galaxy – Sci-Fi Action (2014)
- Gravity – Sci-Fi Thriller/Drama (2013))
- Interstellar – Sci-Fi Adventure/Drama (2014)
- The Martian – Sci-Fi Adventure/Drama (2015)
- Space Cowboys Sci-Fi Adventure (2000)
- Stargate – Sci-Fi Adventure (1994)
You can also watch the entire documentary, Moonwalk One, on YouTube:
