Aerodynamics

This afternoon's rocket challenge was focused on learning about Aerodynamics and Newton's Second Law: Force = Mass x Acceleration. Each group made two paper planes and tested how they would fly. AJ became our paper plane champion!

We talked about the materials that we could use to make our rockets, as well as using a parachute that is deployed once the nose cone comes off.

Next time we will begin to make our rockets so we need as many materials as possible!

Some Exciting Learning

Our classes are loving their learning linked to our Space topic. Below is an example of a Curiosity Card created by Arthur. What amazing discussions we have been having!

ISS Interview

Jai's cousin in Canberra goes to the school that interviewed astronauts from the ISS. Listen here for the interview.

Twins in Space

Today we watched the beginning of this video - take the time to watch it at home.

Rocket Test Launch

This afternoon we had our first rocket test launches. There was great excitement, although we haven't yet created our rockets.

We had a head engineer, safety officer and head scientist for each group. We had to use the rocket launcher and pump the footpump to 60PSI before launching.

Some of the rockets went super high, one group added more water and this rocket looped the loop!

Aaron as head engineer and CJ as health and safety officer

Pumping to 60PSI was the biggest challenge!

Below are a couple of very average videos that Ms Saxon tried to record!

Water Safety

This morning we began our water safety lessons at Pioneer Pool. We were super impressed by the manners and skills of our students, ka pai! We look forward to continuing swimming without goggles tomorrow, before getting into life jackets and boats after that.  See if you can identify some of our swimmers below.

Wonder Project Mission 2

This afternoon we were visited by two of our engineers to continue the Wonder Project.

We discussed Rocket Lab.

We also talked about Newton's Laws of Motion and what our rockets need to be able to fly. We thought of thrust, an aerodynamic design, air pressure to create flight, a durable rocket, clear launch and landing site, fuel, some sort of engine.

We also talked about the engineering design process.

Our rockets are going to be made out of plastic bottles - small and light.

How can we make our rockets fly? Why are we making rockets? What can we learn? What can we explore? How do we know we have been successful? How high do we want our rocket to go? How far can it go? How do we measure how high they go?

How is your group going to create your best rocket?

Curious Students

This afternoon we were visited by official NASA wearing astronauts!

We also began to come up with questions that really interest us using the question matrix.

• How might the Desolace interact with our solar system?
• What is a white dwarf made out of?
• How did scientists find Pluto?
• Why are dwarf planets not planets?
• How might we be able to live on Mars?
• How are the constellations made into stories?
• How could planets ever collide?
• How might we prevent the sun's supernova?
• How are satellites and rocket ships designed?
• How and why are constellations formed?
• How might we find another planet that humans could live on?
• How are satellites sent into space?
• How is a supernova created?
• Is the Oort cloud linked with the Desolace star?
• What is the chemical reaction to create stars?
• How does the moon reflect light if it is made of rock?
• How might humans be brought to Europa?
• Could there be anything beyond the Milky Way?
• How was the first solar system created?
• What might happen to the astronauts' bodies on the ISS?
• What might happen if you hit the end of the universe?
• What might happen if you touched the Milky Way?

Weekly Certificates

Congratulations to Micah, Maya, Sam and Isaac for their certificates this week. These students have been showing increased confidence in their learning, especially during shared writing! Ka pai!!

Rocket Launcher

This morning Micah, Sam, Maya and AJ were chosen to assemble our rocket launcher for the Wonder Project.

They had a box including brake cables, hose connector and blue glue (thread locker) as well as Allen keys, a wrench, a Phillips head screwdriver and a bike foot pump.

They had to follow instructions on a video as well as paper instructions.

What an awesome crew!

Rocket Challenge Day 1

This afternoon we welcomed Evie, Lisa and Martin into our class for the afternoon. These three engineers work for Beca Engineering and are our experts in the Wonder Project, Rocket Challenge.

This afternoon we unpacked our cardboard rocket.

Inside we unpacked safety shirts.

Safety goggles.

We also received a rocket launcher that needs to be put together. Who will be chosen??

Woah! That Blows My Mind!!

Did you know that...

• The sun is actually a star
• The sun produces its own light
• The moon does not!
• If the earth was the size of a tennis ball, the sun would be the size of a two lane highway!
• Light years is the distance that light can travel in a year
• There are red giants and blue giants that are really hot stars
• Different elements from the periodic table are used to produce different coloured fireworks
• The earth is not actually round and is tilted
• Earth is the fifth biggest planet
• Pluto is a dwarf planet
• The Oort Cloud is an extended shell of icy objects
• The bigger the planet the larger the force of gravity
• Sun's gravitational pull holds the planets in orbit around it
• A moon orbits another body but is not a star, our moon orbits Earth in 28 days
• The sun gives the moon its light
• The moon does not spin
• China is trying to build a new moon! What??!!
• Do the moons of other planets reflect on our moon??
• Mercury and Venus have no moons - AJ thinks they are too small to have enough gravitational pull to grab a moon!
• Saturn has 62 moons!

Sleeping in Space

Brushing my teeth in space

Washing hands in space

Inquiry Title Pages

Our creativity has been on full force this week creating out of this world title pages!

Check out our talented students work...