| Building and flying model rockets can be a great way | | | | for them, and this is especially true in the sciences |
| for students of any age to learn a bit about the | | | | which can be very intimidating for students. By taking |
| basic rules of physics. Although model rockets may | | | | physics into your own backyard, you can encourage |
| look more like toys than like educational tools, during | | | | your child to approach science in a fun way that will |
| the process of building and launching a model rocket | | | | help them build confidence. |
| any enthusiast is bound to pick up quite a bit of | | | | Your son or daughter may not even be aware that |
| knowledge about the forces that govern physical | | | | when they are measuring the dimensions of their |
| motion. Even if your child is anything but an honor roll | | | | model rocket during the planning phase before they |
| student, after spending a fun weekend together | | | | begin to build, that they are dealing with the same |
| constructing your own model rockets your son or | | | | scientific principles that can feel beyond their grasp in |
| daughter will be able to confidently explain important | | | | a classroom setting. By giving your child a chance to |
| scientific concepts like weight and thrust. These | | | | absorb this kind of information outside of the |
| topics make up the backbone of the study of | | | | pressures of the school room, you may be sowing |
| aerodynamics. | | | | the seeds for an enduring interest in the subject |
| When flying a model rocket, you will be able to | | | | matter. The key to letting this kind of educational |
| observe Newtonian physics in action. The basic laws | | | | experience unfold is not to pressure your child along |
| of motion are on display for anyone watching a | | | | the way. |
| model 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 |
| Often, a child whose learning style clashes with that | | | | works. In this way, you can ease your child into |
| of his or her teacher will feel a subject is too difficult | | | | learning the fundamentals of physics. |