Tuesday, May 15th, sixth graders from Brownwood Intermediate School competed in a rocket competition.  Launching nearly 250 rockets, students, parents, and spectators gathered to watch as each student’s customized rocket took to the sky over the Lady Lions softball field.

“All three sixth grade teams competed: the Solid Gold Stars, the Super Scholars, and the Dream Team,” said Tony Campbell, 6th grade science teacher at Brownwood Intermediate School. “The students had previously learned about the history of the space program, including fundamental principles of rocketry.”

Students built and decorated their own rockets for the competition that was judged by high school students.

“Judges were chosen by Ms. Gabaree from students in the Choices program at Brownwood High School,” said Campbell noting that judges were provided with a scoring rubrick that included construction (fin/launch lug placement, paint job), mechanics of flight, and lastly parachute deployment and descent. “Most of them [judges] participated as sixth graders and remember the experience fondly.”

Each rocket was launched individually, giving judges and spectators a chance to see if the parachute would deploy and guide the rocket back to the ground for a soft landing.

“Science teachers Laura Scantling, Derek Storey, and myself each chose several students from our respective teams to serve on the launch crew,” said Campbell.  “The kids worked very hard in seeing that all rockets were safely launched.”

At top:  BIS 6th Grade Students prepare their rockets for launch.  More photos below.  Photos contributed by BISD.

Take off!

Successful parachute deployment