How to make pupils pay attention – give them a rocket

Mar 7 2008 by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

BRITAIN'S “space programme” took a step forward yesterday when 20 rockets flashed into the sky over Liverpool.

More than 100 pupils counted down the launch of each rocket filled with powerful explosives.

Flying 300 metres towards the clouds, they left trails of smoke as they floated back down to the playing fields of the Blue Coat School in Wavertree.

Student Rebecca Kuruvilla, 16, gazing high into the sky said the rockets were really cool.

“One came down on to the Astro turf and it was still on fire with loads of smoke coming out of the back, our rocket went right over the field gate and landed in a neighbour’s garden.”

The half-hour launch was the culmination of a day of hard work and concentration by students who built their own rockets, which would normally take two days to complete, in two-and-a-half-hours.

Teacher Chris Gettel, who asked rocket company Stargazer to visit the school this week, said: “It’s been amazing, the students have really enjoyed themselves and some of them even worked through their lunch hour.

“We’re launching the rockets into the wind and most of them parachuted back to the field.

“I’ve not seen as many kids trying to get out of school to watch the launch.”