Seventh grade students in Scott Hocutt’s technology classes recently capped off the school year with a high-flying project that brought science and engineering principles to life.
Over several weeks, the students built model rockets from kits, carefully following instructions and using precise measurements to ensure a safe and successful launch. The project aligned with the seventh grade science and technology curriculum, providing a hands-on way for students to explore core concepts in physical science and engineering.
“This is always one of the highlights of the year,” Hocutt said. “The students get really invested in the work and want their rockets to perform well. You can see the attention to detail and problem-solving happening every day in the classroom.”
As part of the unit, the seventh graders applied Newton’s Laws of Motion, learned about the forces acting on their rockets, including thrust, gravity and drag, and observed energy transformations during launch. The experience also introduced them to the engineering design process as they planned, built, tested and improved their models based on performance and data.
The unit wrapped up last week with two days of launching. One by one, the students gathered on the field to watch their rockets lift off, many of them cheering as their hard work soared skyward.
“It’s a great real-world project that makes the science and technology concepts we teach feel exciting and relevant,” Hocutt said.
