SUMMARY: In Space Travel, students will launch their investigation of rocket propulsion using the compressed air inside balloons for thrust. The class will race balloon rockets and be challenged to devise a balloon-powered rocket car. Experimenting with the fast-moving air produced by spinning propellers, students will build a unique Shuttle Copter to take home. For our grand finale, students will witness a thrilling model rocket launch, and learn the meticulous preparations necessary to send up a rocket!
EDUCATIONAL VALUE: In this class, students will learn about the propulsion systems employed for space travel. Children will participate in inquiry-based discussions and multiple hands-on experiments designed to introduce children to the concepts of thrust, propulsion, action/reaction, aerodynamics, rocket construction, the stages of rocket flight, and more!
NOTE: Mad Science Programs are fun explorations into science and technology, and they encourage informal learning through hands-on experience. All Mad Science workshops include a lot of fascinating equipment, supplies, and take-home materials which the children build themselves. The Mad Science mission is to spark the imagination and curiosity of children everywhere by providing them with fun, entertaining, and educational activities which instill a clear understanding of what science really is, and how it affects the world around them.
