A no-prep, 6-lesson history unit on A significant turning point in modern world history. Written for Year 5 (ages 9-10). Pick it up at lunchtime, teach it that afternoon — every lesson has a full teacher script, projectable slides, a pupil worksheet, and an exit quiz.

Driving question: How did Cold War competition take humans to the Moon — and was it worth it?

What’s included

• 6 × Teacher lesson plans (Word, fully scripted)
• 6 × Pupil worksheets in 3 differentiated tiers (Support / Core / Stretch)
• 6 × Projectable slide decks (PowerPoint, ~22 slides each)
• 6 × Exit quizzes (single-page printable, with answer key)
• 1 × Knowledge Organiser (Word, 2-page A4 landscape)
• 1 × End-of-unit assessment with baseline + mark scheme
• 50+ original illustrations included throughout
• Curated kid-appropriate YouTube videos linked from each lesson’s slide deck

Lesson outline

1. Sputnik (1957) — the world is shocked — I can describe the Cold War context of the Space Race and explain why Sputnik 1 shocked the world.
2. First humans in space (1961-1963) — I can describe the first crewed spaceflights and explain why they mattered to the Space Race.
3. Mercury, Gemini, and the long climb (1962-1968) — I can describe the steps NASA took to prepare for landing on the Moon — and the human costs.
4. Apollo 11 — humans on the Moon (16-24 July 1969) — I can describe Apollo 11 and explain its global impact.
5. Britain in space — Jodrell Bank, Black Arrow, and beyond — I can describe Britain’s role in the Space Race and explain its modern legacy.
6. Was it worth it? — Apollo’s legacy and the next 50 years — I can describe the legacy of the Space Race and judge whether it was worth it.