It's rocket science

From the Emporia Gazette: It's rocket science
Third grade students from William Allen White Elementary School made and shot rockets on Thursday in Hammond Park with the help from Emporia State University students.

The elementary students were from Jill Hendry and Kelly Wagaman’s classes.

“We were trying to brainstorm ideas of what we wanted to do for our field trip, and we knew we wanted it to be science related,” Wagaman said. The teachers got with Matt Seimears, an assistant professor of elementary science and education at ESU.

Wagaman and Hendry graduated from ESU and both took Seimears’ class.

“Dr. Seimears put this all together,” Wagaman said. “We bought the supplies, and he had all the launchers. It’s very minimal cost, but yet, it looks like the kids have been having a lot of fun.”

Seimears brought along his students, who are studying to become teachers.

“The nice thing is that his students volunteered,” Wagaman said. “This isn’t part of their class. They just wanted the experience with the kids.”

Hendry said she thought this event was important for the children.

“With all the focus on assessments, assessments, assessments, school is pretty strenuous on these kids,” she said. “So, I think it is nice to give them an opportunity to be outside and do a lot of hands on learning and see that science can be fun.”

The children built and shot three types of rockets: straw (drinking), air and water-based rockets.

Seimears said the air and water rockets could reach heights of 20 meters and 70 meters, respectively.

“(This event) introduces students into STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” he said. “… We want to start them at an early age. So, kids just understand that science and technology does take a lot of work, but it’s interesting. They can become acclimated to it and really enjoy it.”

Krsna Riddle, who is in Hendry’s class, said he thought the field trip was awesome because he got to shoot rockets.

Cesar Galache Jr., who is in Wagaman’s class, said he thought the field trip was fun because he got to build rockets, play and eat lunch.

Galache and Riddle said they would like to do this event again.

Before the children worked with the rockets, Rod Russell, a local pilot and president of the Emporia Airport Action Group Association, spoke to the third graders about how a plane flies.

“To explain four fundamentals of flight to third graders is a bit much, but I think they understood the basic concepts of going fast and slowing down,” Russell said.