| Building and flying model rockets can be a great way | | | | them, and this is especially true in the sciences which |
| for students of any age to learn a bit about the basic | | | | can be very intimidating for students. By taking physics |
| rules of physics. Although model rockets may look | | | | into your own backyard, you can encourage your child |
| more like toys than like educational tools, during the | | | | to approach science in a fun way that will help them |
| process of building and launching a model rocket any | | | | build confidence. |
| enthusiast is bound to pick up quite a bit of knowledge | | | | Your son or daughter may not even be aware that |
| about the forces that govern physical motion. Even if | | | | when they are measuring the dimensions of their |
| your child is anything but an honor roll student, after | | | | model rocket during the planning phase before they |
| spending a fun weekend together constructing your | | | | begin to build, that they are dealing with the same |
| own model rockets your son or daughter will be able | | | | scientific principles that can feel beyond their grasp in a |
| to confidently explain important scientific concepts like | | | | classroom setting. By giving your child a chance to |
| weight and thrust. These topics make up the | | | | absorb this kind of information outside of the pressures |
| backbone of the study of aerodynamics. | | | | of the school room, you may be sowing the seeds for |
| When flying a model rocket, you will be able to | | | | an enduring interest in the subject matter. The key to |
| observe Newtonian physics in action. The basic laws | | | | letting this kind of educational experience unfold is not |
| of motion are on display for anyone watching a model | | | | to pressure your child along the way. |
| rocket in the air to see. Learning about inertia, | | | | Have reference books on hand in case questions |
| acceleration, and friction are key parts of building a | | | | about topics like inertia and acceleration come up, but |
| rocket that will succeed off of the ground. This fact | | | | don't force your child to consider these issues unless |
| can help spark your child's interest in science. | | | | they become relevant. Strive to create a playful and |
| Sometimes, taking learning out of the classroom can | | | | relaxed atmosphere that will make your son or |
| help a student gain mastery in a subject matter that | | | | daughter comfortable enough to indulge his or her |
| they are not fully absorbing within the school setting. | | | | natural curiosity about how and why the rocket works. |
| Often, a child whose learning style clashes with that of | | | | In this way, you can ease your child into learning the |
| his or her teacher will feel a subject is too difficult for | | | | fundamentals of physics. |