TEACHER GUIDE
A Smile as Big as the Moon is based on a memoir of the same title,
written by Mike Kersjes with Joe Layden.
Mike Kersjes, a high school football coach and special-education teacher, teams up with a fellow
teacher Robynn McKinney to achieve an impossible dream: to take a group of special education
children to NASA’s Space Camp. Space Camp is a competitive education program in the U.S.
Space and Rocket Center. Even though it’s designed for gifted science students, Mike decides
participating in the science program would do wonders for the self-esteem of his students –
especially Ben, a boy with Down Syndrome who dreams of becoming an astronaut.
Mike Kersjes is faced with incredible obstacles in trying to make the dream become a reality –
from doubtful school administrators and flummoxed Space Camp officials to fundraising
difficulties and making his team truly believe that the dream was possible. After being given the
green light to go to Space Camp, the real challenges began. It took nine months of rigorous
teaching, learning and training before the class was ready to take on the world – and for these
star students to shine bright.
CLASSROOM DISCUSSION
SPECIAL NEEDS – Learning, physical, emotional and mental disabilities impact people of all
ages, races and backgrounds. What are some of the reasons that the characters are part of the
special education class? What types of different challenges does each individual face?
IMAGINATION – Mike believed that if you use your imagination you could overcome almost
any obstacle in life. Space Camp was designed for the intellectually gifted and elite science
students. How did Mike, Robynn and the special education class use imagination to succeed in
the film?
ACCEPTANCE – We all want to find approval among our peers. In the movie, the football
team initially ridicules the special education class. Discuss how the football players move from
scorn to acceptance.
DETERMINATION – Mike received resistance when he decided he wanted to take his class to
Space Camp. Everyone from his fellow teacher and the school’s principal to the Space Camp
officials thought his idea was unrealistic. What did Mike see in his students that others did not?
How did his determination make a difference for the students and everyone they met in this
experience?
RESOURCEFULNESS – Even though the class was approved to go to Space Camp, they still
faced many challenges – intellectual, physical, emotional and financial. Discuss some of the
challenges faced by individuals and the group as a whole. What creative solutions did they use to
beat the odds?
HIDDEN TALENTS – Every individual has special skills. Mike looked for these unique gifts in
each of the students – like Grant’s model-building skills, Lewis’s artistry and Ben’s ability to
swim. How did Mike help build on each individual’s talents to make a cohesive team?
TEAMWORK – Mike had difficulty raising the money needed to go to Space Camp. The
students wanted to help but Mike told them not to worry about the finances. He felt he could
handle the situation on his own. He wrote many grant requests that were rejected and didn’t
know where to turn for the needed funds. How did the students come to his aid in this situation?
What did Mike learn about the students and teamwork? What other examples of teamwork can
you remember from the film?
EMPATHY – Stephanie is ridiculed by many kids at school but no one comes to her aid
initially. Why do you think she is being picked on? What makes the other students ignore her
distress? Scott eventually begins to stick up for Stephanie around the other students because he
begins to have empathy for her situation. What is empathy? How does compassion play a role in
this film?
LEADERSHIP – Mike saw leadership potential in Scott even though he didn’t see it in himself.
What is a leader? How did Scott move from unwilling participant to having “the right stuff?”
TRUST – Each student in the class had different obstacles to overcome on a personal level. In
addition, they needed to work as a team and trust one another when they were not sure they
could trust themselves. How did the students learn to trust themselves and each other? How did
their belief in one another contribute to their success at Space Camp?
CRAYOLA EDUCATIONAL ART ACTIVITIES
IMAGINATION COLLAGE – Mike had a picture of Albert Einstein in the classroom and
reviewed a quote from Einstein with the students – “The true sign of intelligence is not
knowledge, but imagination.” Using this quote as a heading, create a collage of images that
expresses what imagination means to you. You can use pictures from magazines, drawings or
photos. Add decorative details with Crayola Crayons, Markers or Paints.
TEAMWORK TELESCOPES – Telescopes help us look beyond our everyday surroundings
and see the stars. Work in small groups to create a paper telescope. Look in books or online for
inspiration for your design. Try using specialty papers like Crayola Color Explosion® or Neon
Color Explosion to make your project really stand out!
I’M A GAME DESIGNER! – Mike knew that traditional teaching methods would not be
enough to help his class through the rigorous Space Camp curriculum. He decided he needed to
think of creative techniques to make the information learnable and relevant. Mike designed a
game to help the students learn the complex vocabulary they are required to know. Design a
game to teach your class a new concept. Create a colorful game board with Crayola Crayons and
Markers. Use Crayola Model Magic® to sculpt unique game pieces.
MOON SHUTTLE MODEL – How would you design a space shuttle to travel to the moon?
What will you need to incorporate in your design for a successful mission? Use recycled
materials to build your own shuttle craft. Be creative with materials, functionality and features.
Use Crayola Paint and Glitter Glue to add color and shine.
HELPING HANDS PLEDGE – How can you help people with special needs in your
community? Trace your hand on a piece of construction paper. Cut out the tracing of your hand.
Use Crayola Markers to write a way you can help people with special needs in your community.
Display the hands in your classroom or school hallway.
SPACE CAMP PATCH – In the film, Lewis used his artistic skills to design a patch that
represented the team. Design a patch that you think represents the students and their efforts in the
film. Use Crayola Colored Pencils to bring the design to life.
HIDDEN TALENT DIORAMA – What is your special talent? Are you a great soccer player?
Are you good listener? Or are you a class math whiz? Each of the characters in the film had a
special talent and so do you! Create a diorama to display something that you do well. You can
use Crayola Model Magic to sculpt yourself and other key elements in the diorama.
THE “RIGHT STUFF” BULLETIN BOARD – During the award ceremony at the end of
Space Camp, Scott is given an award for having “the right stuff.” What do you think makes up
the right stuff? Create a classroom bulletin board with the heading “The Right Stuff.” Draw
pictures of what this idea represents using Crayola Crayons and Markers. Add words like team,
respect and trust to support the drawings.
ADDITIONAL PROJECT IDEAS AT CRAYOLA.COM
DIVERSITY
Access for Everyone -> http://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/detail/access-for-everyone-lesson-plan/
Faces in the Crowd -> http://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/detail/faces-in-the-crowd-lesson-plan/
Celebrate Diversity Banner -> http://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/detail/give-our-class-ahand%E2%80%94celebrate-diversity-banner-lesson-plan/
OUTER SPACE
Outer Space Travelers -> http://www.crayola.com/crafts/detail/outer-space-travelers-craft/
Planets Beyond -> http://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/detail/planets-beyond-lesson-plan/
Star Gazer -> http://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/detail/star-gazer-lesson-plan/
IMAGINATION
Man of the Century -> http://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/detail/man-of-the-century-lesson-plan/
Erase the Quiet -> http://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/detail/erase-the-quiet-lesson-plan/
Speaking up for Creativity -> http://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/detail/speaking-up-for-creativitylesson-plan/