Learning’s a blast at Fairgrieve

Learning can be a real ‘blast’ at Fairgrieve Elementary School, just ask sixth grade students who recently launched their custom-built model rockets for a large crowd of onlookers.

Building and launching model rockets has become a standing tradition at Fairgrieve and this year’s event was kicked off with three special launches by local rocket enthusiast Bob Coakley.

After that each student was given an opportunity to launch his/her rocket in an official NASA-like countdown while using a specially designed launch pad and battery control system.

Taking into consideration the weather conditions, the students were asked to make some predictions about the flight pattern that their rocket will take including whether they believe that their rocket’s parachute will deploy as intended.

These predictions as well as actual findings were included in a final report that each student was required to write about the rocket project.

Fairgireve sixth grade teachers coordinate the rocketry project each year in conjunction with the study of gravity and propulsion.

The students build the rockets using kits from the Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES Science Center and the experience introduces the students to the forces of motion as well as gives them an opportunity to learn about electricity and aerodynamics.

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