History · Grades 4–7
Space exploration timeline worksheet
Ten events, from Sputnik in 1957 to the James Webb Space Telescope in 2021, each date checked against NASA’s own records. Kids match each event to its date.
Three NASA photos set the scene: Earthrise from Apollo 8, Buzz Aldrin on the Moon, and Hubble in orbit. The answer key shows the full timeline and a question to talk about.
Questions
Which events are on the timeline?
Sputnik, Explorer 1, Yuri Gagarin, John Glenn, Apollo 8, Apollo 11, the first Space Shuttle flight, Hubble, the first space station crew and the Webb telescope.
Where do the dates come from?
From NASA mission pages and NASA image records. Each date is listed with its source.
What grade is it for?
Grades 4 to 7, about ages 9 to 13.