Common Core State Standard L.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: Video of a current news event is presented for discussion to encourage student participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the video. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.
04/13/2026
Key moments from Artemis II's mission, from launch to splashdown
The Artemis II crew is officially home after their Orion spacecraft splashed down as planned in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego on Friday. The historic 10-day mission sent the four astronauts farther from Earth than any humans had gone before, beating the previous record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. Artemis II was the first time that most people alive today have witnessed humans travel to the moon. The last time was in 1972, when Apollo 17 landed astronauts on the lunar surface.
■Class discussion: Did you watch any of the videos from the Artemis II mission? Are you excited about future landings and the possibility of establishing a permanent base on the moon? Why of why not? Do you think manned space exploration is important? What can we learn from humans exploring the solar system that we can’t discover from unmanned spacecraft, possibly using artificial intelligence? How much more complex and expensive are spacecraft that carry humans?
