This powerful film tells the story of the Earthrise photo taken by Bill Anders, one of the astronauts on the Apollo 8 mission in 1968.
The film features in-depth interviews with all three astronauts on the Apollo 8 mission: Frank Borman, James Lovell, and Bill Anders.
This resource also includes an in-depth article and a discussion guide you can download.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This film really changes your perspective about our planet and our home.
Hearing the reflections from the three astronauts is extremely powerful.
This film can be used with classes (or anybody!) who may not care that much about our natural world. This film can peer into the soul of the viewer and perhaps reach a part of them that nothing else can.
Additional Prerequisites
The film is accompanied by an in-depth article and a lengthy 75-page discussion guide. The discussion guide must be downloaded. To download, you must complete several mandatory fields, including which grade bands you teach and your purpose for downloading. The discussion guide will be emailed to you. It's easy and fast.
The discussion guide features four themes. You can choose one of them for implementation in your classroom. The four themes are the power of perspective, bearing witness, exploration, and reverence for the environment.
The discussion guide is also available in Spanish.
Differentiation
This film can be used in art class, English class, or science class.
This film would be great for the first day in science class when you begin a unit on Earth systems.
There is a lot of background information in the discussion guide. You may want to share it digitally with your students.
Your students can also watch Amanda Gorman perform her poem "Earthrise," which is based on this famous photograph.
Middle school English teachers can implement this poetry lesson plan where students analyze Amanda Gorman's poem and write their own poems.
Scientist Notes
This resource includes a brief article and a 30-minute video documentary looking back on the events that lead to the "Earthrise" photograph taken by astronauts on the Apollo 8 mission around the moon. This resource is quite inspirational and captures the emotions and thoughts of the astronauts during their mission, as well as the impact that the "Earthrise" photograph had on people back on Earth. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Social Studies
History
History 2: Students understand historical aspects of unity and and diversity in the community, the state, Maine Native American communities, and the United States by identifying research questions, seeking multiple perspectives from varied sources, and describing examples in the history of the United States of diverse and shared values and traditions.
History 1 (D2): Students understand major eras, major enduring themes, and historic influences in the history of Maine, the United States, and various regions of the world by analyzing major historical eras, major enduring themes, turning points, events, consequences, and people in the history of Maine, the United States and various regions of the world.
History 1 (D2): Students understand major eras, major enduring themes, and historic influences in United States and world history, including the roots of democratic philosophy, ideals, and institutions in the world by analyzing and critiquing major historical eras: major enduring themes, turning points, events, consequences, and people in the history of the world and the implications for the present and future.
Visual and Performing Arts
Visual Arts: Standard C1 - Perceive and analyze artistic work.
D.C1.9-12prof.b Analyze how experiencing visual imagery affects the viewer’s understanding of the world.
D.C1.9-12acc.a Recognize and describe personal aesthetic and empathetic responses to the natural world and constructed environments.
