Locust Valley Central School District

During June, Locust Valley Intermediate School fifth graders wrapped up their space-themed science unit by constructing their own creative rovers inspired by NASA’s planned return to the moon with the Artemis mission. Science teacher Caroline McBride brought her brother, NASA engineer Justin Cassidy, to discuss how he helps develop tools for astronauts to use in space and give advice to students on what features they could include in their rovers. Students ran with this advice, putting together rovers of all shapes and sizes, using items such as tin foil, cardboard boxes, plastic pipes and even Lifesavers mints as wheels. In late June, fifth graders Lucia Mandell, Natalie Martinovich, Audrey Munsil and Caroline Principe learned they had been chosen as winners for the most functional designs in a video sent by Mr. Cassidy, and received pins from the Goddard Space Flight Center.