Week Three: ROCKETS

This week was all about rockets. We started the week with simple straw rockets. Each student was able to make and test three different designs. They altered the lengths of their straws and we able to design different fins for them. They also started working ontheir solid fuel rockets for Friday's EXPO.

We took a slight detour from rockets on Tuesday and went over to the Chicago Executive Airport. The students got the opportunity to go into the tower and see takeoffs and landings from that perspective with binoculars. They assisted in checking that all landing planes had their wheels down for a smooth landing! Next the Up, Up and Away students got the chance to go over to the flight school and impress Charlie, a flight instructor, with all of their knowledge about the parts of the plane! Charlie showed them around a real aircraft and they had the opportunity to sit inside and control the rudder and ailerons. Charlie took them through a preflight where one of our students noticed a missing screw in the wing! The trip ended with a peak at a flight simulator in the school.

It was back to rockets in the afternoon where the students continued to work on parachutes for their solid fuel rockets.

Wednesday brought more rockets! They continued to work on their

solid fuel rockets so they would be all set for Thursday's test launch. They also made water rockets out of two liter bottles. (Thank you to all those who contributed bottles!) They took a short break to check out the Physics and Engineering class race their CO2 cars.

The students were finally able to get their solid fuel rockets into the air on Thursday with lots of OOOOs and Aaahhs from the students and passers by! They were also given a large portion of the day to finish up their research reports in the computer lab and make some final repairs on their solid fuel rockets.

Thank you to everyone who came out for EXPO and be sure to thank your students for a wonderful session!!!

Week Two: Flight In Color

Week two got off to a great start with a colorful project and amazing weather! We spent the first two days on hot air balloons. The students had the opportunity to share their knowledge of hot air balloons before learning the parts and how they work. Their flight knowledge from our unit on planes came in handyand they had the opportunity to build on that knowledge.

The Up, Up & Away students worked in small groups to make a hot air balloon out of tissue paper. This was no easy feat and it took a little over a day of teamwork to accomplish the task. Not surprisingly all the groups were up for it and successfully completed their balloons.We had a windy launch day, but managed to get most of the balloons off the ground. While the windy day was not best suited for launching the balloons, it was a great day for flying kits. Therefore, the students had one last chance to fly their kites on the Lakefill, before taking them home.

Wednesday was an opportunity for the students to show us how much they have learned about the parts of hot air balloons and the principles surrounding their flight.

Test your knowledge with one question from Wednesday's quiz: The particles inside a hot air balloon are moving (slower, faster, at the same rate) as/than the particles outside of it. Answer at the end.

The students watched a film about Charles Lindbergh and the first flight across the Atlantic. In groups they focused on "Sacrifices for the Advancement," "Thinking Differently," and "Lindbergh Before and After Success."

The Up, Up & Away class then moved on to parachutes. They used what they learned about surface area to construct three different parachutes with different shapes, but the same surface area. In partners they used this information to construct a parachute and basket to bring an egg safely to the ground without breaking. They were given two sheets of printerpaper, a paper towel, a sheet of tissue paper, 4' of tape and 3' of kite string to complete this task. The heights ranged from a chair seat to the third floor landing.

On Friday, the students were given another opportunity to show us what they have learned about Lindbergh and the properties of acceleration before finishing up their egg drops. We moved on to helicopters and the students spent the afternoon constructing and

testing roto-copters.

Test your knowledge answer: The particles inside a hot air

balloon are moving FASTER than the particles outside of it.

Week One: Airplanes & Kites

Here you will find some answers to the age old question: "What did you do in class this week?" Hopefully you will find it a little more enlightening than the answers: "nothing" and "stuff."

The week started out with introductions and paper airplanes. After learning about the parts of an airplane and their purposes, the students designed and built their own paper airplanes. They had the option to build them for speed, hang time, distance, or stunts. After testing their original designs, they were able to modify their planes before collecting three trials of data. The Up, Up &Away class also started thinking about their research projects.

After a successful and creative day of paper airplanes the Up, Up & Away class moved on to balsa wood airplanes. They first tested a pre-created model. Next they used what they had learned about wings to build their own original wing design. They got a chance to test them outside, which was especially nice for those that built wings that could take their planes farther than the length of our classroom!

Wednesday started with an opportunity for they students to show us what they have learned so far about airfoil, Bernoulli’s Principle and the parts of a plane. They learned all about perseverance through a movie about the Wright brothers and the journey to the first flying machine.

Kites came on Thursday. They constructed delta kites and had a beautiful day to test them out outside on the Lakefill. They flew beautifully! Those that needed to make repairs outside were able to and everyone was able to get their kite up in the air.

Friday provided another opportunity for the students to share what they have learned this week about kites, the Wright brothers and the first flight. They were given a chance to patch up their kites and decorate them for a second flight outside. Some students chose to make some last modifications on their balsa wood planes for some last test flights instead. Overall it was a great first week!

Week Two Preview: Hot Air Balloons, Parachutes and Helicopters!