Students in the gifted and talented program at Sandshore Elementary School in Budd Lake recently constructed their own rockets to test what they had learned about the forces of flight and aerospace engineering.
The fourth- and fifth-graders worked in teams of three and used construction paper, straws, and masking tape to build their rockets. The rockets were propelled by air from squeeze bottles. After testing, students had opportunities to rework and improve their designs.
“The students did an amazing job,” said teacher Sandy Andrews. “In every project that we do, I remind them never to fear failure. It’s key to the learning process. Engineering doesn’t often work perfectly the first time so revisions are important. And that requires teamwork, communication, and good analytical skills.”
Before the hands-on portion of the lesson, students learned about the various parts of a rocket as well as the forces of gravity, lift, and drag. They also watched videos on rocketry which touched on concepts such as escape velocity.
The gifted and talented program is devoted to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math). Students meet for 45 minutes one morning per week before the start of the school day. There are currently 22 students in the school’s program.
Past projects have included designing and building a roller coaster, working with optical illusions, and constructing a tower to understand the methods that engineers and architects use to keep skyscrapers stable. Students also completed an engineering challenge at the makerspace at the high school.