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Rocketry Boosts Career Preparation
Model rockets are unique educational tools that can seamlessly connect multiple disciplines together in one lesson while enhancing critical skill development. Rocketry improves STEM competencies as a hands-on, and often, project-based activity. With this approach, students take greater responsibility of their own learning and thinking by creating a deeper connection to content by applying knowledge to solve a problem. Students working in small groups or pairs further optimize teamwork and collaboration skills. Moreover, problem solving and critical thinking are also enhanced through model rocketry as an exciting inquiry-based activity. As highlighted in our lessons, there are many topics, questions, and ideas to explore through model rocketry that develop the necessary skills for a successful STEM workforce.
Critical Thinking
Communication
Collaboration
Creativity
Creating a Diverse Workforce
Currently, there are significant disparities in the STEM workforce. Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans are extremely underrepresented among STEM workers (9%, 7%, and <1%, respectively), and even more so less represented amongst STEM college graduates. Women also remain underrepresented in STEM occupations, but less so compared to the past. The STEM workforce is getting more diverse but there is still more work to be done (and rocketry can help).
Together We Can Make STEM:
Welcoming
Relevant
Empowering
Accessible
- Connect assignments or activities to students’ interests whenever possible and allow student expression.
- Celebrate cultures by having students’ countdown their rocket launch in their native language or listen to their favorite music as students come into class or build their rockets.
- Check out our lesson extensions or bring a new spin to projects such as integrating theater, design, business, or journalism (to name a few).
- Guide students to see the connections to a future in STEM by introducing people that are currently studying STEM, active in a STEM career, or historically important (ex: Mary Gold Ross, Bessie Coleman, Sylvia Acevedo, Ellen Ochoa, Katherine Johnson, Guy Bluford, and more!)
- Teach students how STEM can make a difference to them and their community by emphasizing individual, family, or community values in STEM occupations.
- Highlight local examples of STEM research or incorporate citizen science in the classroom to help students connect to larger science projects.
- Activities should be engaging and exciting by allowing students to each build their own rocket or, if working in small groups, ensuring each student has a role.
- Support collaborative rocketry projects to boost teamwork, communication, and leadership to boost confidence.
- Encourage questions and motivate students to explore topics that inspire them.
- Integrate free online videos and resources to supplement STEM lessons – standard with all Estes Education unit and lesson plans.
- Expose students early on to STEM to enable them to grow a strong and appropriate skillset
- Integrate STEM into all curriculum and expand beyond just math and science class.
We acknowledge there can be a barrier to bring rockets to your classroom, but we are here to help! Explore our resources!
Rocketry Everywhere, Anytime
Introduce students early. The sooner they can get hands-on experiences, the sooner they can build competency in STEM and personal confidence. Bring rocketry into any setting.
