Students Join Artemis II Mission to Moon

In Señora Nin’s lower school Spanish classes, students connected language learning and classroom units with real-world space exploration. Kindergarteners, currently studying food vocabulary, explored what astronauts eat on the Artemis II mission and watched videos in English and Spanish that demonstrated how space food is prepared, packaged and tested.

First graders explored the role of a Canadian astronaut, tying it to their study of North America. They followed the journey of semillas (seeds) traveling from Canada on el cohete (the rocket), learning about árboles lunares (“moon trees”) that will be planted there upon their return to Earth. Fifth grade also studied the seed journey, connecting the concept to their science lessons on planting and growth. Second, third and fourth grade classes explored launch time across different zones, measurement of the vast distances Artemis II will travel and surface geography.

In middle school, the timing of the mission was perfect for Dr. Wagner’s eighth grade science students, who incorporated the Artemis II launch into their lunar unit. After watching the launch and discussing the reasons for Artemis II's orbital mission, students participated in a stations-based exploration activity focused on theories of how the moon was formed.

Across grade levels, the Artemis II mission served as a catalyst for interdisciplinary learning. At Barstow, teachers intentionally build lessons around student interests, transforming them into meaningful and memorable classroom experiences. The result is a dynamic environment where even complex topics like space exploration become accessible and inspiring for students of all ages.