A Tragic Day in America: The Challenger  Explosion
The Challenger Launch on January 28, 1986
The Challenger Launch- January 28, 1986




INTRODUCTION: The January 28, 1986 explosion of the Challenger Space Shuttle was a tragic day in America.  The space shuttle mission was to be one of  history, both before and after the explosion.  The Challenger explosion has forever changed the conditions for launching space shuttles in America.

TASK:  In groups of four, you will put together a flip chart containing information that you have learned about the Explosion of the space shuttle Challenger Explosion in January 1986. Each person in the group will choose a role to play during this activity.  The roles are:
Reporter- This person will be responsible for delivery of the presentation.
Historian- This persons job will be to lead the others in the group in search for information.
Artist- This person will be responsible for the layout and putting together of the flip chart.
Investigator- The job of this person will be to lead group in search of information about what went wrong and the launch was pushed for.


RESOURCES:  During this activity, you may use the following websites for                               information and pictures.
The Challenger Explosion- 10 Years Later - a Life Magazine look back at the explosion 10-years later.
Challenger Crew Biographies - a NASA site offering short biographies of the crew members.
Challenger Accident - site offers several links to different Challenger sites.
Challenger Space Shuttle - site offers link to the Presidential Commision Report on Challenger Accident.
The Challenger Page - a site with lots of photos and information about what went wrong.
Challenger Mission - a NASA site about the mission the Challenger had hoped to carry-out.
Challenger Links - this site has several links about the Challenger Explosion.
The Challenger Accident - a University of Texas site offering loads of information on the accident.
Challenger Crew -  site with photos of crew members as well as a little info on crew.
The Challenger Tragedy - is a page that with a few pictures of the explosion also it offers a short video for                                       watching of the explosion.

Challenger Explosion
The Challenger Explosion





PROCESS: 1. Complete Internet search to gather information about the                                  explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.
                   2. Using the information your group has gathered, create a flip
                   chart to present that will serve as a informational resourse about
                   the explosion. The presentation must contain
                               - a summary of information about the event
                               - pictures of crew and of different stages of explosion
                               - a discussion of what went wrong
                               - a discussion on how NASA was wonder about possible                                        launch problems, but ignored them.
                   3. Present your flip chart to class.


EVALUATION:
 
Task
Beginning (1 point)
Developing (2 points)
Accomplished (3points)
Exemplary (4 points)

    Presentation		 The presentation had few pictures and little detail.
 		 The presentation had at least four pictures  and some detail. The presentation had at least 5-8 pictures and had great detail.
The presentation had more than eight pictures and was very detailed.  The presentation was well delivered.

       Delivery		 The presentation was somewhat interesting and engaging
 		 The presentation was interesting and engaged most of the audience The presentation was interesting and engaged all of the audience.
The presentation was interesting and involved all the audience.  The audience participated in the presentation.

 
 

        History

 The information presented was somewhat accurate but very few details were presented.
 		 The information presented was accurate and included some detail. The information presented was accurate and included many details.
The information presented was accurate and included many details.  Personal reflections of the information is presented/discussed.

 
 


CONCLUSION: In this activity, you have learned how to synthesize information from Internet resources to create and present a flip chart presentation that will serve as a informational resourse about the Challenger Explosion.  It is hoped that you have learned something new and interesting about the this event in history.