Written by Carleigh Tilson Edited by Abby Cali
Dozens of students waited in anticipation as the bottle rockets were pressurized by the bicycle pump. They held their breath as they got ready for the launch. Students with their altimeters were far away, ready to measure the distance. Those with timers were preparing their watches and phones, holding their fingers over the buttons in quiet anticipation. Some were standing yards away, ready to catch the hand-crafted rockets as they fell back to Earth. Mrs. Cali shouted, “Okay, now PULL!” 8th grade science students have been building and launching rockets for an entire week to enhance their knowledge of Newton’s laws. With their teacher’s help, these students were able to create their own unique rockets and launch them, furthering their studies and having fun at the same time. Though not all of the rockets were successful, this helped the students grasp a greater understanding of Newton’s Laws and the engineering design process. After launching the rockets and collect data, they calculated the speed and acceleration, showing that they can put their knowledge to the test. Students also learned how to communicate with their team members and put their newfound knowledge on display for the teachers, students, and people passing by to see. A special thanks to Mrs.Cali, Mrs. Hancock, and Mrs. Nuchols, for giving these students the opportunity to have fun while learning.
SPECTACULAR SPACECRAFTS
