Definition:

Courage is the willingness to go beyond fear to face a healthy (not foolish) challenge, even though it  could be painful, risky, or end in failure.  

In short:

Do good, try hard even when it’s scary.

Summary:
This book is a visually stimulating and well-crafted account of the first moon landing in 1969. Readers learn about the scary challenges the team faced to accomplish the mission. When astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin descended from the aircraft and set foot on the moon’s surface, they were the first humans to ever achieve this feat. This is a “you are there” dramatic description that includes many details of this astounding event, emphasizing the courage the astronauts needed to face life-and-death situations. 

Lesson Objectives:

1. This story can be linked to a science unit on space exploration. 
2. Students make a list of all the challenges the astronauts faced as described in the book. They discuss what can be done to find courage in the face of a challenge they might experience. 

Guiding Questions: 

1. What event does “One Giant Leap” describe? Include dates and names of those involved. 
2. Would you like to be an astronaut after reading this story? Why or why not? 
3. What was one of the challenges they faced as they approached the moon? 
4. What do the astronauts need to do before leaving the spacecraft to walk on the moon? 
5. Describe what it’s like on the moon. 
6. Why does the footprint on the moon remain for years and years? 
7. Why is walking on the moon different from walking on earth?  
8. Describe how you feel when you look up at the sky at night. If you can’t remember, take time to go outside, look at the night sky and think about how it makes you feel.  
9. What does the earth look like from the moon? 
10. Do you think the astronauts appreciate the earth more now that they’ve seen what it’s like on the moon? Why or why not?