Astronomy - Space Exploration - Space Probes

The Voyager Probes Boldly Go Where None Have Gone Before

The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia

Discussion:
Space probes - purpose, design, capabilities, limits
Probes currently operating
(Review of pictures already studied when learning earlier topics)

Activity:
Picture gallery sent back from probes

Medieval Europe - War of the Roses

The Young Oxford History of Britain & Ireland

Discussion:
Re-enactment of the War of the Roses
Attempt not to be completely confused.  Note apparent non-availability of names of English noblemen other than Edward, Henry, and Richard.

Activity:
History journal
(Re-enactment)

Astronomy - Space Exploration - GPS

How Does GPS Work

The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia

Discussion:
GPS - development
three-dimensional positioning

Activity:
Use GPS on phone to go geocaching

Medieval Europe - 100 Years War - Henry V and Joan of Arc

The Young Oxford History of Britain & Ireland
Joan of Arc by Diane Stanley
Joan of Arc by Josephine Poole and Angela Barrett

Discussion:
Henry V - Battle of Agincourt, premature death
Henry VI - king of England and France (kind of)
Joan of Arc fights for Charles VII

Activity:
Reenactments
History journal

Medieval Europe - Richard II

The Young Oxford History of Britain & Ireland

Discussion:
Richard II - poll tax revolt
Conflicts with the nobility
Henry Bolingbroke - deposing Richard, becoming Henry IV

Activity:
History journal
Monarchy tree

Astronomy - Space Exploration - Satellites

The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia
Beyond the Solar System by Kay Carson

Discussion:
Types of satellites
Uses of satellites
Sizes, shapes, construction

Activity:
Build a mobile with satellites

Astronomy - Space Exploration - International Space Station

A Cool and Candid Look at the International Space Station Hosted by Astronaut Suni Williams

The Amazing International Space Station by the Editors of YES Mag

Discussion:
Building the ISS
Life on the ISS
Science at ISS

Activity:
Try some of the activities in the book mentioned above

Medieval Europe - 100 Years War - Origin and Early Conflicts

The Young Oxford History of Britain & Ireland

Discussion:
English holdings in France in 1330
Edward III and the Black Prince - claims to the French throne
Battles of Crecy and Poitiers - English victories

Activity:
History journal
Map study
Re-enactments
English succession activity

Astronomy - Space Exploration - Space Shuttle

Space Shuttle Launch NASA Atlantis to the International Space Station
CNN: Challenger Disaster Live on CNN

Space Shuttle Story by Andrew Wilson
The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia

Discussion:
Purpose of the shuttle
Soviet shuttle plans
Problems with the program

Activity:
Visit the space shuttle at the National Air and Space Museum - Dulles

Medieval Europe - The Canterbury Tales - Tales II

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales by Marcia Williams
Read-aloud: The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

Discussion:
Read several tales - social rankings, making fun of other professions/pilgrims, sense of humor

Activity:
Draw last 10 pilgrims
History journal

Astronomy - Space Exploration - Moon Landings

Neil Armstrong - First Moon Landing
Apollo 13 re-entry and splashdown as seen on live TV

History of Rockets by Ron Miller
The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia

Discussion:
The Apollo missions - sending man to the moon
Apollo 13
End of the Apollo program

Activity:
Watch Apollo 13 for movie night

Medieval Europe - The Canterbury Tales - Tales I

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales by Marcia Williams
Read-aloud: The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

Discussion:
Read several tales - discuss professions, descriptions of pilgrims

Activity:
Draw 10 more pilgrims
History journal

Medieval Europe - The Canterbury Tales - Geoffrey Chaucer

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales by Marcia Williams
Read-aloud: The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

Discussion:
Chaucer's life
Origins of the tales
The prologue - meet the pilgrims

Activity:
Draw 10 of the pilgrims
History journal
Map/picture study (Canterbury)

Astronomy - Space Exploration - The Space Race

Sputnik 1 CBS News Special Report on TV, October 6, 1957
Glenn Flight Thrills World (1962)
Who Won the Space Race?

The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia
The History of Rockets 

Discussion:
USA and USSR compete to put people in orbit/on the moon
Types of technology developed
Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin

Activity:
Timeline of major space race events

Medieval Europe - Black Death - Spread and Mortality Rates

Medieval Medicine and the Plague by Lynne Elliot

Discussion:
How the plague spread
Rates of infection
Mortality, affect on burial customs

Activity:
Picture study
History journal
Map study

Astronomy - Space Exploration - Rocket Fuel Types and Payload

A History of Rockets
The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia

Discussion:
Types of fuel used in propelling rockets
What rockets can carry and how

Activity:
Make a chart listing the uses of different kinds of rocket fuel

Medieval Europe - The Black Death - Origins and Types

Medieval Medicine and the Plague by Lynne Elliot

Discussion:
Origins of the Black Death
Types of infections

Activity:
History journal
Picture study (Oxford Illustrated History of the Middle Ages and Der Schatz des Amplonius)

Astronomy - Space Exploration - Rockets

History of Rockets
The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia

Discussion:
How a rocket works
Fuel types
Escaping gravity and going into orbit

Activity:
Build and launch a rocket (small, non-gravity-escaping type)