Third-graders visit Empire State Aeroscience Museum

Marie Curie Institute's third-graders got to launch their own rockets during a recent visit to the Empire State Aeroscience Museum in Scotia.

The students visited the museum to see its various artifacts and airplanes and to participate in its Rocketry program, which tied in with the school's engineering magnet school theme.

The students built their rockets out of wood and cardboard. They first sanded one end of a wooden stick so it resembled the tip of a rocket, then cut a piece of cardboard onto four fins, which were glued to the other end of the stick. The front of the stick had a notch in it that would be used to launch the rocket.

When the students finished building their rockets, they went outside and tried to launch them with a contraption that used a rubber band to propel them into the air. The students really enjoyed this part! Some of the rockets went very far, while others did not.

This was an exciting and educational program that helped students learn more about engineering and rocket design. It was an excellent trip to a fine museum, and we look forward to returning here next year for some more programs.

To view a photo gallery of the visit, click here.