Fourth Grade Rocket Day

By Melissa Sullivan
October 13, 2025

On October 9, 2025, fourth-grade students at Waynewood experienced an unforgettable day of hands-on science, collaboration, and critical thinking during Arm and Hammer's Baking Soda Rocket Day.

Leading up to the big day, the entire fourth grade immersed themselves in rocketry in their Lab special.

The Rocket Day project was a perfect vehicle for practicing the FCPS (Fairfax County Public Schools) Portrait of a Graduate (POG) skills, helping students develop attributes essential for success in the 21st century.

Working in teams, students had to rely on each other to succeed. They applied for roles on the launch team from the structural engineer in charge of assembly, mission director in charge of the launch, fuel specialist carefully measuring the baking soda and vinegar, communications officer in charge of collecting data and the safety specialist ensuring a safe launch. Effective collaboration was key to ensuring their rocket was structurally sound and their fuel mixture was precise.

Students practiced being clear and concise communicators as they presented their rocket designs to their peers, explained the chemical reaction driving their launch, and shouted instructions during the countdown sequence. Post-launch, they anaylzed their observations and identified areas for improvement.

The moment of truth—the countdown and thrilling launch—was only the midpoint of the scientific process. After the last rocket soared (or sputtered!), students collected and analyzed data.

Working with their teams, they recorded key metrics for each launch:

  • Weather: Observing weather conditions such as wind and temperature
  • Flight Time: Measured duration from launch to landing.
  • Flight Path: Noted the path of each rocket as it launched in the sky.

This hands on experience ensured the our fourth graders didn't just launch rockets; they launched their understanding of scientific principles and the importance of communication, collaboration, and critical and creative thinking.  

A student pours vinegar into the bottle before the launch.
A student pours vinegar into the bottle before the launch.
A student stands with his rocket before the launch.
A student stands with his rocket before the launch.
Students react with surprise to the rocket launch.
Students react with surprise to the rocket launch.
A student constructs the rocket in The Lab.
A student constructs the rocket in The Lab.
A student completes a rocket math activity on her computer in The Lab.
A student completes a rocket math activity on her computer in The Lab.
Students collect data using a stop watch during the rocket launches.
Students collect data using a stop watch during the rocket launches.
Students collect data during the rocket launch.
Students collect data during the rocket launch.
A 2-liter bottle used as a rocket launches on the field.
A 2-liter bottle used as a rocket launches on the field.
Students holding the baking soda and a rocket prepare for launch.
Students holding the baking soda and a rocket prepare for launch.
A student concentrates to pour the vinegar into the bottle slowly.
A student concentrates to pour the vinegar into the bottle slowly.