During the first week of our after school Rocket Building class, students learned several important concepts dealing with design, engineering and aerodynamics. One of the students in the class explained several important concepts she learned in the 1st week: “Evenly balanced sides are appropriate for a rocket,” reflecting upon a rocket that was not evenly balanced and did not perform well. She also added that “Spiraling fins don’t improve height” and that “Fins should be evenly spaced and large enough.” The students learned many concepts such as these through experimentation and will apply what they learned to build better rockets the 2nd week, which will carry eggs to space.

Other students explained scientific concepts taught during the first day of the class. Some explained how the center of gravity affects height and that “flat tops slow rockets down, less weight can make your rocket fly higher.” Students also learned why the rockets take off. They observed that pressure building up in the rocket cause them to take off.” Our youngest students also explained scientific concepts well. A fourth grader explained concepts, stating that air molecules can work with you or against you (in reference to air causing fins to keep a rocket straight or drag, causing a rocket to slow down). He also added that fins help control a rocket and without fins the rocket goes crazy. The students definitely learned several important concepts of experimentation and design, as well as some fundamental scientific principles. One thing is for sure; everyone had fun launching rockets and seeing what happened!

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