This term, a group of Year 5 and 6 students have launched into an exciting new learning adventure: the Rocket Challenge!

Working in teams of three, students are designing, building, and testing water rockets. Throughout the challenge, they will complete six learning modules that explore Newton’s Laws of Motion and the engineering design process. In our first session, teams were encouraged to consider what makes a successful rocket and to identify potential hazards they might encounter during launch. Next week, students will conduct their first test flights and begin collecting data to explore how different variables affect a rocket’s flight.

We are fortunate to be partnered with Associate Professor Enda Crossin from the University of Canterbury as our Wonder Project Ambassador. Enda brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with the group.

If you have any empty 1.5-litre PET bottles (soft drink bottles) at home, please send them along to Room 19—we’ll need plenty of these throughout the project.