During the second week of the West Islip Union Free School District's Summer Investigations program at Paul J. Bellew Elementary School, students embarked on an exciting journey through space with a weeklong theme centered on space and innovation.

Across all academic areas, students explored astronomy, engineering and space exploration through hands-on lessons designed to spark curiosity and creativity. In the library media center, students learned about constellations and created replicas of Orion's Belt using chalk, stars and stencils. They also designed their own Big Dipper constellation projectors, allowing them to continue exploring the night sky at home.

English language arts lessons focused on researching the planets and taking a virtual trip to NASA's International Space Station, helping students build their research and informational reading skills while learning about life in space. In the STEM lab, students discovered what it takes to be an astronaut as they listened to the book “Edward Built a Rocketship” by Michael Rack. Inspired by the book, they engineered and launched their own paper rockets using pipettes, testing how far their creations could soar while exploring basic engineering and physics concepts. The week concluded with an outdoor space-themed obstacle course, giving students an energetic and engaging way to celebrate everything they had learned.