STEM Monthly Newsletter 
May 2026 

 

Artemis II: Out of this world moments, From take-off to Splashdown!

Artemis II Launch

A powerful rocket is launching into the sky, surrounded by a massive plume of smoke and flames, against a backdrop of a clear blue sky.

NASA’s Space Launch System rocket lifts off on April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center, carrying the Orion spacecraft and Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen on a 10‑day journey around the Moon and back.

A New Era of Exploration

A large crowd of people, many with their hands raised, gathered in an outdoor setting, with a clear blue sky visible in the background.

Cheers erupted as Artemis II launched from Kennedy Space Center, sending astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. This historic mission is helping inspire the next generation of explorers, engineers, and scientists.

Hello World

A stunning view of the Earth from space, showcasing its vast oceans, landmasses, and swirling cloud patterns against the backdrop of the dark, starry universe.

NASA astronaut and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman took this photo of Earth from the Orion spacecraft’s window on April 2, 2026, as the crew began their journey from Earth toward the Moon.

What A View!

A silhouetted figure gazes through a window at the Earth's curved horizon, with the planet's atmosphere visible against the blackness of space.

NASA astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch looks out a window of the Orion spacecraft at Earth as the crew travels toward the Moon.

A large, dark silhouette of an object dominates the center of the frame, surrounded by a starry night sky.

Artemis II astronauts captured this solar eclipse as the Moon blocked the Sun. They saw the eclipse because they were close to the Moon and perfectly lined up with the Sun and Moon. Earth was not in the Moon’s shadow at that time, so people on Earth did not see it.

The Artemis II astronauts use special eclipse glasses to protect their eyes while watching a solar eclipse during their trip around the Moon.

 
A group of four people wearing colorful sunglasses and smiling at the camera, with a blurred background suggesting they are in some kind of indoor setting.

Earth Sets Over the Moon

A partially illuminated Earth rises above the rugged, cratered surface of the Moon in the dark expanse of space.

Seen from the Orion spacecraft, Earth appears to “set” behind the Moon during Artemis II’s flyby, just like a sunset on Earth—this happens on the far side of the Moon, where Earth moves out of view as the spacecraft travels. The bright part of the Moon shows where it is daytime, while the darker area is nighttime.

The Side of the Moon NEVER Seen

A stark, cratered lunar surface dominates the frame, with a dark, shadowy background.

This image shows Vavilov Crater on the far side of the Moon—the side we cannot see from Earth—where the edge between day and night creates long shadows that make the craters stand out like hills and valleys!

Splashdown

The image shows several large red and white parachutes descending over a vast blue ocean, with a small sailboat visible in the distance.

After an incredible 10-day journey around the Moon, the Orion spacecraft safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026, at 8:07 p.m. EDT. 

For Highlights Click here

A group of astronauts in blue spacesuits standing on a stage with flags and a starry background.

🌙🚀 We are grateful for the Artemis II mission and NASA—and for the many engineers and scientists from around the world, past and present, whose collaboration made this incredible journey a reality—an inspiring reminder of how STEM learning empowers future generations to explore, discover, and reach beyond our world. 💛

 

Thank you to all the ladies out there for all that you do to help us grow.
We so appreciate you!

 

Mother's Day Mice - Read Aloud

Enjoy this heartwarming read aloud of Mother’s Day Mice by Eve Bunting, where a group of little mice work together to create a special surprise for their mom—using creativity, problem solving, and teamwork, just like in STEM! 

For Mother's Day STEM Projects:
Click Here

 

Ambiguous Images

Ambiguous images are pictures that can be seen in different ways, depending on how you look at them. It's like a magic trick for your eyes and brain! Sometimes, these images can show one thing at first, and when you look again, you might see something else completely.

For example, imagine a picture of a face that can also look like a vase, depending on which part of the picture you focus on. Ambiguous images are fun because they make us think and look at things in different ways.

They help our brains practice seeing things from different points of view, which can make us better at solving problems and being creative! It's like a game for your eyes and mind!

Frog or Horse?

A large, weathered fish sculpture emerges from a rocky, mossy background.

Duck or Rabbit?

A detailed black and white illustration depicting the profile of a duck or waterfowl, with its distinctive beak and feathered head prominently featured against a plain background.

Tow Faces or a Vase?

The image depicts two silhouetted profiles facing each other, creating an optical illusion where the negative space between them can be perceived as either two faces or a vase.

 

MAY STEM Projects

May is filled with fun, themed opportunities to spark creativity, curiosity, and STEM learning as we wrap up the school year!

Asian American & Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Scientist

Mother's Day (May 11)

Card

Harry Potter Day (May 2)
Anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts 

Candle

International Day of Light (May 16)

paper

May the 4th Be With You (May 4th)
Star Wars Day

Star wars picture

End of Year STEM

balloon

Zoom In & Zoom Out Picture Game

Can you guess the item that is zoomed in before the camera zooms out. The quicker you guess, the more points you receive.

 

Final Matilda Update

Did you enjoy learning and growing with Matilda this year? Registration for the 2026-2027 school year is open as of May 1, 2025 to adopt a new calf for the fall! Please click HERE to register for you own Discover Dairy.

Cow
cow

One last update with our adopted calf, Matilda, as the school year draws to a close. Our calf is turning out to be a beautiful young heifer! One day, when she joins the milking herd, you could be eating yogurt or enjoying cheese on your pizza made from her milk! How cool is that? Thank you for loving her with us! 💗

The image shows the growth stages of a calf named Matilda over a period of 6 months, with each stage depicted in a separate photograph. The calf is a black and white spotted dairy cow, and the background includes a rural farm setting with wooden structures and greenery.

Florida Dairy Farmers' Spring Recipes

Try out some of these amazing dairy recipes from the Florida Dairy Farmers.

Hazelnut Chocolate Cheesecake Dip

Dessert

Frozen Yogurt Pistachio Tart

Tart

Greek Yogurt Fruit Dip

Dip

 

Monthly Shout Outs

STEM in Action!

A huge shout out to SAMS for hosting Robofest this year! With five teams competing in the Jr. Exhibition, their RavensPi team took 1st place with an innovative plant-watering robot—what an incredible accomplishment! All teams did an amazing job showcasing creativity, problem-solving, and the power of STEM. The future is bright as our students continue to design, build, and think like engineers!

A group of young students in school uniforms are gathered around a table, working on what appears to be a robotics or engineering project, with the classroom setting visible in the background.
A young girl with long brown hair and a blue shirt is smiling while holding a large robotic device in a room with people sitting at tables in the background.
The image shows three young students posing in front of a display board titled %22A Blind Helper! Robot%22 in what appears to be a school setting.
A colorful assortment of building blocks and toy parts scattered on a white surface, with a wooden ruler and other objects visible in the background.
Three young individuals, likely students, are holding a trophy in what appears to be a school setting. They are wearing similar dark-colored shirts and standing in a hallway or classroom environment.
The image shows a desk with various items, including a robotic device, potted plants, and informational posters on the wall behind it.

Have a STEMtastic Summer!

Special Thanks to Mrs. Gregos, CSA Science & STEM Supervisor
cgregos@charterk12.com