Newell's New Frontier

For a first grader, the scale of the solar system can be difficult to grasp through a textbook alone. While we often look up at the night sky, light pollution and early bedtimes can make it hard for young students to truly witness the splendor of the Milky Way Galaxy that they learn about in class.

Recently at Newell Elementary, the gymnasium was transformed into a gateway to the cosmos. Thanks to a collaborative effort by first-grade teachers Asia Thoene, Abby Elsbury, and Renee Sutherland, the universe is now a down-to-earth adventure. The Grand Island Public Schools Foundation was proud to award these stellar educators a $475 Classroom Grant, bringing the Edgerton Explorit Center’s portable planetarium directly to their students.

This immersive environment allowed 60 students to crawl inside a world of discovery, where they could watch the transition from day to night and see the moon’s phases shift in real-time. From the comfort of their own school, they navigated the planets and traced the shapes of ancient constellations in this cosmic theater setting.

The students’ excitement was the true measure of the program’s success. “It was super cool and we got to see lots of stars we haven’t learned about yet,” shared first grader Jaklynn Lopez. Classmate Mueawia Abdulkarim was equally captivated, adding, “I loved seeing all the stars and planets!”

While the "wow" factor of a digital sky is undeniable, this experience was rooted in clear academic goals. The planetarium served as a multi-sensory classroom reinforcing several key areas of Newell’s first grade science curriculum:

Science Inquiry
Students observed the movement of stars, planets, moons, asteroids, comets and galaxies deepening their understanding of Earth’s place in space.

Reading Comprehension
By visualizing the stars, students begin to make connections to the non-fiction texts and stories explored in classroom studies.

Vocabulary Building 
Students develop a deeper understanding of new terms like orbit, constellation, and lunar rather than just viewing words on a page.

At its heart, this grant is a catalyst for curiosity. Newell first-grade teachers wanted their students to see science as an adventure, not just a textbook chapter. By bringing the universe to their doorstep, we’re encouraging these young explorers to ask big questions and dream even bigger. The GIPS Foundation is privileged to empower deserving educators and thankful for the community support that makes such 'out-of-this-world' moments possible. Together, we are ensuring that every student at Grand Island Public Schools has the chance to reach the stars.