People on the Moon
A long time ago, in 1969, astronauts went to the Moon and brought back Moon rocks.
- Know that astronauts first walked on the Moon in 1969.
- Name Neil Armstrong.
- Know that some meteorites come from the Moon.
Links to: History: events beyond living memory that are significant globally, such as the first Moon landing.
The first Moon landing
In 1969 a spaceship called Apollo 11 flew all the way to the Moon. Two astronauts, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, climbed out and walked on it. Neil Armstrong was the first person ever to step on the Moon.
They left footprints in the grey Moon dust. Because there is no wind on the Moon, the footprints are probably still there.
Bringing rocks home
The astronauts collected Moon rocks and dust and brought them back to Earth. Scientists still study them today.
More astronauts went to the Moon after that and brought back lots more rocks.
Moon rocks that fell
Some meteorites are pieces of the Moon! A big space rock hit the Moon and knocked pieces into space. A few of them later fell to Earth. Scientists knew they came from the Moon because they matched the rocks the astronauts brought back.
Ask a grown-up to help you find out how many years ago 1969 was. Then draw a picture of an astronaut on the Moon. Add footprints, the Earth in the black sky, and a bag of Moon rocks.
Quiz
5 questions. Choose an answer to see whether you are right and why. Finish the quiz to complete the lesson.
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Question 1Who was the first person to walk on the Moon?
Neil Armstrong stepped onto the Moon in 1969.
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Question 2In which year did people first walk on the Moon?
Apollo 11 landed on the Moon in 1969.
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Question 3What did the astronauts bring back?
They collected rocks and dust for scientists to study.
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Question 4Why are the footprints probably still on the Moon?
Nothing on the Moon wipes the footprints away.
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Question 5Can a meteorite come from the Moon?
Some pieces knocked off the Moon have fallen to Earth as meteorites.