Space Race (Photo credit: howzey)

The space race has an interesting place in about fifty years of history (1957-2007). From the time of Sputnik to the Phoenix landing on the north pole of Mars, much changed in our world.

Here is a summary of the US exploration. Here is a YouTube video created for a history class looks at the contributions of the Soviet Union: 

The challenging of sharing songs about the space race has been set by some senior living communities which I visit.  Here are a few songs I am considering sharing which the residents and I have identified:

• Blue Moon
• Fly Me to the Moon
• Up, Up, and Away
• Dream Weaver
• Moon River
• Beyond the Sea
• I’d Like to Visit the Moon
• Venus (Frankie Avalon)
• Venus (Shocking Blue)
• Allegheny Moon
• Purple People Eater
• It’s Only a Paper Moon
• Blue Moon of Kentucky
• The Stars Fell in Alabama
• The Stars and Stripes Forever

For discussion topics I am considering:

1. Historical events from space travel many of which can be found here and here.
2. Inventions related to the space race. This How Stuff Works post lists 10 items.
3. Did you every wish to travel in space/ Why/why not?
4. What were your favorite television series that included space travel? (They might include: “My Favorite Martian”, “Lost in Space”, “Star Trek”, “The Jetson’s”, “I Dream of Jeanie” and “Space Ghost”. )
5. What were your favorite movies about space travel? (IMDb has a listing of space and alien movies.)
6. Name the planets in our solar system.
7. Did you ever gaze at the stars at night? Discuss constellations. Here is one source you get you started.

Looking for some background or mood setting music? A few ideas include:

• Space Capades: Ultra Lounge
• Claire de Lune – Debussy
• Thus Spake Zarathustra – Richard Strauss
• The Planets – Holst

What would you include in a discussion of the space race with older adults?