My Weekly Reader ( Sept 15, 1965)

Another My Weekly Reader, this time from Sept 15, 1965.  I am fascinated by how space news came into the classroom. It is unlikely that I read this issue since I would have been in 1st grade at the time it came out and this is the 3rd grade edition.

 The first pictures of Mars must have excited the kids. It makes Mars a real place you could go someday.

The inside article show the next round of Apollo astronauts.  If people were going to the moon someday, why would any child not think Mars was next?

 Hope you read carefully! These quizzes are tricky!

Finally, a pretty deep question. Why do we want to learn more? (I think because we need to understand where we live. Without comparison you have a sample set of one.)

Colonel John Glenn...A man in orbit (1963)

This is a posting of mine from Jan 29th, 2010.  Just heard that Col. John Glenn has died and wanted to remember him by bringing this book up to you all. 

RIP The First American to orbit the earth!

--------------------------------------------- Space art is really of two styles. There are images of spaceships and other views that no one has ever seen. Often the artist uses some scientific basis but uses imagination from there. The second kind is art based on real space events. It can range from realistic to impressionistic but it starts with a real object. In the early 1960s artist now had real spaceships to draw.

This book was a classroom text. One of those "interesting reading" books that was used to supplement the curriculum. (And NO my copy is not autographed, they all have a printed signature on the cover!)

Taylor, Frieda and Howard, Ethel K. Illustrated by Oliver, Martha. John Glenn : A Man in Orbit. Cleveland, OH : Educational Research Council of Greater Cleveland. (34 p.) 22 cm. 

A school reader for grades 1-3 describing John Glenn’s flight.  Adapted by Frieda Taylor from a story by Ethel Howard. Part of GCSSP (Greater Cleveland Social Science Program) "Initial Teaching Alphabet" series. Also 1968 edition by Educational Research Council of America.

Other books that might bring back memories"

From 1963 and 1964: 

My Space Ship's Log (1959)

My Space Ship's Log is basically a geography and social studies workbook that they tried to put a "space age" slant on. The graphics are simple and I have eliminated most of the geography. 

My space ship's log. Coral Rupprecht and Marion Kurutz. Kenworthy Educational Services, Inc. 1959. (B-3425) 64 p.

 First we have the Lieutenant's oath and their pilot's license.

 What I find particularly enchanting are the kids in their flying saucer as they move around the continents learning about different countries.

 Not especially scientific, but another way for children to feel they are part of a "space age."

These two illustrations of "space age" camping I especially enjoy.

Seventeen space dawns (1963)

My faithful readers have given me this translated title : Seventeen space dawns (1963).  This is sort of fill-in post since the book is mostly Russian text and I really just wanted to share some of the graphics from this book.


Smurfswacker wrote: 

"The book was written by Gherman Titov, the second Soviet cosmonaut after Yuri Gagarin. The title refers to his Vostok 2 mission, in which he orbited the earth 17 times. The title page identifies him as "Hero of the Soviet Union...Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR." The subtitle says "Autobiographical novel."

Highlights Magazine (1956)

June-July 1956

A couple of articles from Highlights Magazine in 1956.  Highlights for Children, often referred to simply as Highlights, is an American children's magazine. It began publication in June 1946. For those of us in America it seemed to be a staple of doctor's offices. I did not know anyone who subscribed individually. At best you can say it was "benign" and not too interesting. However it was something to read and I thought you might like seeing these articles.

 I am fascinated with the "propaganda" aspect of the Chief of the Department of Space Medicine taking the time to help write an article for children.  It seems part of an effort to educate children about a world they would be growing up in soon.

 "Why mice may go to the moon before men"

The second is from Highlights May 1956

While not an article about space it still may be of interested to those of us interested in atomic science as seen from 60 years ago.

Just for fun here is an imaginary being from Jupiter as shown in the June-July issue:

Your Trip Into Space (1953) part 2

Continuing my scans from this fascinating early space book.

They discussed in the next sections the building of a space station.

 An interesting concept, how to turn trash into rocket fuel.

The book continues with a trip to the moon. They evaluate a couple of ways to construct a moon lander.

 I also like this period illustration of watching the moon landing on television.

 I also really like this final closing to the book, with its positive tone that the reader will be part of a future space program.