While the world watched the successful splashdown of the Artemis II mission, the Kindergarteners at BASIS Independent Manhattan were already deep into their own lunar preparations. In engineering class, a simple pile of LEGO bricks became a lesson in the high-stakes world of aerospace, where our early learning students discovered a fundamental truth: in engineering, every single detail matters.

An Interdisciplinary Preview

At BASIS Independent Manhattan, we often speak about our “spiraling curriculum.” For this lesson, that spiral started early. Before picking up a single block, students discussed the meaning behind the name Artemis.

This served as a fascinating interdisciplinary bridge to grade 5 Classics, where students dive deep into Greek mythology and history. By connecting a modern NASA mission to ancient stories, our students could understand how science, history, and culture are never truly separate.

Mastering Propulsion and Design

The classroom was a hub of “focused fun” as students deconstructed the complexities of a Space Launch System (SLS).

• Structural Integrity: Using LEGO, Kindergarteners designed launch systems that required balance and strength to stand tall for “liftoff.”
• The Science of Flight: Through “straw rockets,” students experimented with the mechanics of propulsion, learning how force and direction dictate a successful trajectory.

A Living Connection to History

The lesson took a personal turn thanks to our Kindergarten Teaching Fellow, Ms. Kelly. She shared a remarkable piece of her own family legacy: her father was a Navy pilot who flew the recovery helicopters for the original Apollo missions.

Students looked at archival photos of these recovery missions, realizing that the “splashdown” they were watching on TV – that the world was watching – connected directly to members of their own school community who were part of this carefully constructed operation’s evolution. This use of primary sources and personal narratives is a hallmark of the inquiry-based learning in our Lower School.

“We Will Follow Her There”

Perhaps the most powerful moment came during a discussion about the first female astronaut to journey toward the moon on the Artemis mission. The representation on screen sparked an immediate reaction from several of our students.

“We’re going to follow her there one day so we can explore the moon, too,” they remarked.

What our teachers marveled at most wasn’t that the students learned the mechanics of a rocket, but that they gained the confidence to believe in themselves to accomplish a feat like that in their future. We provide the tools, the content, and the encouragement for them to aim for the stars—literally.

Join Our Next Mission

Our classrooms are spaces where curiosity meets high-level inquiry every day. If you’re ready to see how our Subject Expert Teachers inspire the next generation of engineers and explorers, we invite you to visit our campus or connect directly with our admissions team at manhattan-admissions@basisindependent.com.

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BASIS Independent Manhattan is a PreK–grade 12 private school with campuses in the Upper West Side and Chelsea. Our mission is to educate students to the highest international levels through a spiraling liberal arts and sciences curriculum. We are committed to a joyful learning culture where hard work is celebrated, and our Subject Expert Teachers inspire extraordinary outcomes.