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Lift Off
On Thursday, June 2, the fourth grade gathered at Chapel Hill to participate in the annual bottle rocket contest. Since 2002, fourth graders have been brainstorming, designing, building, testing, rebuilding, and launching rockets constructed out of plastic soda bottles.
Usually the contest is held within the last two weeks of school, and this year the last day of classes happened to work best, according to fourth grade teacher Mr. Webb.
The students "build, come out and test, and then rebuild," said Mr. Webb, so there is an "opportunity...[to] make corrections" and learn from their original design's mistakes. In addition to learning about basic aerodynamics, the project serves as an excellent opportunity to get creative with the rockets' designs. According to Mr. Webb, the rockets with "simple designs" tended to be more successful. And, "sometimes, it's the rockets you least expect."
Student Ethan C. thought it was a great project because it also made them cooperate: “everyone had to put in enough effort to make [the rocket] possible," said Ethan. He and his partner, Patrick G., named their rocket "The Mystery" because, according to Patrick, they "couldn't think of a name." Although their rocket landed an impressive 96 feet away, the two "thought it would go further."
The students were able to use their teacher’s rocket as a model. They were free to pick their partners and brainstorm possible themes. There was no shortage of creativity: the rockets’ themes ranged from “Papa Smurf” (complete with a beard and a hat) to “Sweetie Pie” (covered in colorful candy stickers and glitter) to “To Infinity and Beyond” (modeled after Toy Story’s Buzz Lightyear) to “Snack Attack” (covered in snack wrappers) to “Big Bird” (with feathers and wings).
After the launching, four trophies were awarded. For distance, Dylan O.'s and Ryan D.’s rocket won, reaching an impressive 101 feet. Lukas M.’s rocket won the height category, reaching 130 feet high in the air. The trophy for time aloft was awarded to Autumn G., whose rocket remained in the air for five seconds. Lastly, the design/engineering trophy went to Garrett M., Sa'id R., and Daniel R.
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On Thursday, June 2, the fourth grade gathered at Chapel Hill to participate in the annual bottle rocket contest. Since 2002, fourth graders have been brainstorming, designing, building, testing, rebuilding, and launching rockets constructed out of plastic soda bottles.
Usually the contest is held within the last two weeks of school, and this year the last day of classes happened to work best, according to fourth grade teacher Mr. Webb.
The students "build, come out and test, and then rebuild," said Mr. Webb, so there is an "opportunity...[to] make corrections" and learn from their original design's mistakes. In addition to learning about basic aerodynamics, the project serves as an excellent opportunity to get creative with the rockets' designs. According to Mr. Webb, the rockets with "simple designs" tended to be more successful. And, "sometimes, it's the rockets you least expect."
Student Ethan C. thought it was a great project because it also made them cooperate: “everyone had to put in enough effort to make [the rocket] possible," said Ethan. He and his partner, Patrick G., named their rocket "The Mystery" because, according to Patrick, they "couldn't think of a name." Although their rocket landed an impressive 96 feet away, the two "thought it would go further."
The students were able to use their teacher’s rocket as a model. They were free to pick their partners and brainstorm possible themes. There was no shortage of creativity: the rockets’ themes ranged from “Papa Smurf” (complete with a beard and a hat) to “Sweetie Pie” (covered in colorful candy stickers and glitter) to “To Infinity and Beyond” (modeled after Toy Story’s Buzz Lightyear) to “Snack Attack” (covered in snack wrappers) to “Big Bird” (with feathers and wings).
After the launching, four trophies were awarded. For distance, Dylan O.'s and Ryan D.’s rocket won, reaching an impressive 101 feet. Lukas M.’s rocket won the height category, reaching 130 feet high in the air. The trophy for time aloft was awarded to Autumn G., whose rocket remained in the air for five seconds. Lastly, the design/engineering trophy went to Garrett M., Sa'id R., and Daniel R.