How can I use the Apollo Moon samples in lessons?

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Apollo samples show how direct evidence transformed understanding of the Moon, from its age and origin to its craters, and they link to engineering and teamwork.

The Apollo Moon samples combine human adventure with science, making them a rich teaching resource.

Background. Between 1969 and 1972, twelve astronauts walked on the Moon during six Apollo missions and brought back about 382 kilograms of rocks, soil and core samples. Some schools can borrow sealed lunar samples through loan schemes.

What the samples showed. - The Moon is about 4.5 billion years old. - The dark maria are basalt lava plains, mostly 3.1 to 3.9 billion years old. - The bright highlands are made of anorthosite, a rock rich in feldspar, which suggests the Moon was once covered by a magma ocean. - The Moon is very dry and has a small iron core, evidence used to support the idea that it formed from debris after a giant impact on the young Earth. - Its oxygen isotopes are almost identical to Earth's.

Link to meteorites. Apollo samples allowed scientists to identify lunar meteorites, found in Antarctica and deserts, by comparing their chemistry. Lunar meteorites come from random places, including the far side, adding to what Apollo learned.

Lesson ideas. - Pupils plan what equipment an astronaut needs to collect samples safely. - Compare Moon rocks with Earth rocks such as basalt and anorthosite, if available. - Discuss why samples are stored in nitrogen-filled cabinets to prevent contamination. - Create a timeline of lunar sample return, from Apollo and Luna to China's Chang'e 5 in 2020 and Chang'e 6 in 2024.

This topic also supports lessons on engineering, teamwork and the history of the space age.

How can I use the Apollo Moon samples in lessons?

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