Prepare for launch! First-grade students participated in an enrichment project to help NASA discover solutions to building rockets that could visit the International Space Station and transport people to colonize the moon.

Mrs. Juran introduced the activity to students who made up their own groups to collaboratively and creatively come up with ideas to build a rocket using pasta and marshmallows that could stand as a structure.

Students began by designing individual rockets and then combined their ideas using their resources. Once they built their structures, Mrs. Juran discussed how they could learn something from every rocket regardless of whether it was able to stand without falling.

Lastly, students learned how NASA astronauts often learn by failing and trying new things. That could be as complex as building a rocket to go to space or as simple as making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in space.