Moon in Motion: HCES Students Esplore the Cosmos through STEAM

On the night of Sept. 8, 2025, Humphreys Central Elementary School (HCES) students were treated to a celestial spectacle—a total lunar eclipse that transformed the night sky into a classroom. This rare astronomical event inspired a month-long STEAM Challenge titled Moon in Motion, designed to ignite curiosity and deepen students’ understanding of the moon and our solar system.

The challenge kicked off with a hands-on observation experience. Using the school’s Dobsonian telescopes, HCES students and staff captured stunning images and video footage of the eclipse overnight while most students were asleep. These visuals were shared across classrooms, allowing every student to witness the moon’s dramatic transformation and sparking conversations about lunar phases, orbital patterns, and the science behind eclipses.

To bring the moon even closer to home, students participated in a creative building project where they constructed 3D representations of the moon. These models showcased the moon’s surface features and lunar phases while encouraging students to think critically about scale, texture, and spatial design. The activity blended science with art, reinforcing the interdisciplinary spirit of STEAM education.

Another highlight of the challenge was the immersive experience inside the Star Lab, HCES’s indoor planetarium. Classes rotated through this dome-shaped learning environment, where students explored the phases of the moon, the mechanics of eclipses, and the broader architecture of our solar system.

“In our standards-based science curriculum in first grade, we teach students to describe patterns through observing the sun, moon, and stars,” said Jeanie Park, first grade teacher.  “By having an immersive and enhanced resource like the Star Lab, students become engaged and excited to watch these patterns appear before them in a simulated environment, helping students develop skills for real-world applications in science and math.”

The Star Lab sessions offered a dynamic, visual approach to astronomy, making complex concepts accessible and memorable.

The excitement doesn’t end in September. HCES will culminate its schoolwide astronomy project with the annual Night Under the Stars event in October. Families and students will gather for an evening of stargazing, telescope demonstrations, and hands-on STEAM activities. This celebration not only reinforces the lessons learned during Moon in Motion but also fosters a sense of community and shared wonder.

Through this multifaceted STEAM initiative, HCES has transformed a fleeting lunar event into a lasting educational journey.

“The moon models and the Star Lab were so important to me because of how much we learned about the moon and lunar eclipses and the planets, and when I grow up, I want to be a scientist,” a third grade student said.

By combining observation, creativity, and immersive learning, students have gained a deeper appreciation for the moon’s motion - and their own place in the universe.