Rockets Fly at Nursery Road Elementary for End of STARBASE Program

If you happened to be in the neighborhood near on Friday, you might have seen some flying objects in the sky.

No, they weren't spaceships, but rockets being launched by fifth-grade students at Nursery Road marking the end of a week-long adventure in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through the STARBASE program.

STARBASE, a U.S. Department of Defense-sponsored program, is a national program designed to spark interest and improve the knowledge and skills of students in the STEM areas through interactive, inquiry-based curriculum.

The South Carolina program, called STARBASE Swamp Fox, is hosted by the Air National Guard at McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover. Over two weeks, three fifth-grade classes traveled to McEntire where they were able to see how important those academic subjects are through activities that require teamwork, goal-setting, exploration and evaluation.

During the week, students learned about various topics such as Newton's Law and Bernoulli's principle, the engineering design process, geometry and data analysis. The curriculum during the program is taught by volunteer military personnel.

On Friday, students wrapped up the week with a rocket launch and engineering challenge.

On the first day of the program, students are given rockets that they can decorate. Students also are faced with creating a seat that would hold an egg securely as it glides down a zip line. The purpose of the challenge is for students to figure out how to attach the egg in a way that it wouldn't break on impact.

Mitch Powers, a fifth-grade math and science teacher, said the STARBASE program was a wonderful way for students to get excited about learning science, technology, engineering and math.

“They learn so much by (doing) the hands-on activities,” Powers said. “They enjoy it tremendously and it really helps them to retain it.”

Powers said the combination of the academics and experimentation teaches them how to evaluate and solve problems, and learn from any mistakes.

Lynne Riddick, a fifth-grade English language arts teacher, agrees the program is an excellent way for students to learn on a field trip.

“It’s hard to find a math and science field trip,” Riddick said. “There’s a lot of learning going on (with the STARBASE program.) You just can’t put a price tag on it.”

Riddick said the students “bubbled with enthusiasm” and that she couldn’t say enough good things about their experience.

Before beginning the program students are pre-tested to determine their knowledge of topics covered during the program. At the end, students are tested again to see how much they've learned.

The rockets used during the week are reusable, so students are able to continue the project at home. Students also receive a certificate with their call names and a wristband.

Fifth-grade students in Angela Quarles class also participated in the program.

The STARBASE program itself is free to schools. The only expense is bus transportation. Students received 20 to 25 hours of hands-on instruction at National Guard, Navy, Marine, Air Force Reserve and Air Force bases across the country.