Dear Parents,

Starting in May 18, we will be building model rockets to launch during school. This project is done to help teach Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion as well as strengthen the student’s understanding of the Great Space Race.

Prior to our start date, your child will need to have the materials necessary to build a rocket. Students have three options for building their rocket:

1. Students will go out and purchase their own rockets. I encourage you

to go to Rider’s Hobby Store or a place like Hobby Lobby or

Hobby World. Michaels’ and Meijers’ have rockets as well. This

will allow your child to have a wider range of rockets to choose

from, but can get a little pricey. Please purchase a rocket with

balsa wood fins if they are available.

2. I will buy some rockets from Rider’s in bulk and then sell them to the

students. I believe the cost last year was $7 or $10, depending on

the rocket they chose. Those will be sold on a “First Come, First

Serve” basis.

3. Your child can collect cardboard tubes (toilet or paper toweling) and

some extra cardboard to make fins and a nose cone. This will cost

you very little.

Each student will be responsible for their own glue, paint and other materials to construct their rockets. I will have some materials available, but those will be on a very limited basis. Students will also be responsible for their own rocket engines.  Again, I will have some engines for sale.

I have some launch pads at school that the students will be able to use, but they should feel free to bring their own if they have them. Please label them in some way to make sure that it is easily identified as being your child’s. Students should also bring a shoebox, or keep the original packaging to keep their rockets safe.

The students are very excited to do this project and I have found that this is a great way to end the school year.