Video summary
Dick, Dom and Fran Scott from 'Absolute Genius' look at the scientific work of Wernher von Braun.
Wernher von Braun designed the rocket that sent Apollo 11 to the moon, and was described by NASA as 鈥渢he greatest rocket scientist in history鈥.
However, as a member of the Nazi party during World War Two, and having worked to develop the V2 missile, he is a controversial figure.
The V2 was constructed at the Mittelwerk site by prisoners from Mittelbau-Dora, a concentration camp where an estimated 20,000 prisoners died during the war.
After 1945, despite his involvement with the Nazis, he was secretly hired by the US to work in their space program.
This short film is from the C麻豆官网首页入口 series, Absolute Genius with Dick & Dom.
Teacher Notes
This short film could inspire pupils to write and present a spoof news report on von Braun's work and the launch of Apollo 11.
They could conduct further research into the life and work of Wernher von Braun and consider if he deserves the title 'absolute genius', taking into consideration his involvement with the Nazi party.
As a fun activity, students could investigate water rockets. They could change variables such as the amount of water and the shape and size of the rocket to discover how these factors effect how far the water rocket travels.
Pupils could then design blueprints for their own space rockets, labelling the key elements.
This short film is suitable for teaching science at Key Stage 2 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Second Level in Scotland.
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