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!!!