Grade 4 students recently took audiences on a Vacation to Mars as part of their culminating celebration of their interdisciplinary Space Unit. This performance was much more than a musical; it was a showcase of months of inquiry, creativity, collaboration, and learning.

Throughout the unit, students explored topics including the solar system, gravity, phases of the moon, Earth’s rotation, influential astronomers, and current space missions. They then pursued their own research questions, creating inquiry projects and essays on space-related topics of personal interest. In the Innovation Lab, students applied mathematical and engineering skills to design and build their own Artemis II rocket models.

The learning extended beyond science as students helped create props and costumes, translated portions of the script into Hebrew, and made meaningful connections to Jewish Studies. They explored the role of the moon in the Jewish calendar, learned about Israel’s first astronaut, Ilan Ramon, and participated in engineering challenges inspired by SpaceIL.

Their performance reflected not only their knowledge of space but also their growth as learners, problem-solvers, and collaborators.