OCTOBER SKY
Teacher Information
Content Areas:
Earth and space science, physics of forces and motion,
chemical reactions
Synopsis:
A high school boy in a coal mining town is inspired by
Sputnik to explore rocketry. His science teacher helps him
enter the science fair. He and his partners win the science
fair and a life beyond Coalwood.
Good Science:
Rocket parts and functions are accurately described.
Proper lab safety is modeled by students. Correct
explanations are given for the motion of propellant gas
through the nozzle of a rocket.
Bad Science:
Students in the film did not show their careful
documentation of their experiments. Such documentation is
described in the book, Rocket Boys. The boys unsafely prepare
rocket fuel with alcohol over an open flame.
Note to teachers:
Warn students that rocketry is a dangerous activity:
proper equipment, safety practices, supervision and knowledge
are required.
This film is recommended for high school classes only, due to
mature language ("ass, damn, hell, son of a bitch")
World Wide Web Sites:
The Universal Pictures October Sky Study Guide is
available from http://www.universalpictures.copm/octobersky/studyguide
Homer Hickam, Jr.'s website at http://www.homerhickam.com
NASA http://www.nasa.gov
The Heavens Above site for visual spotting of satellites http://www.heavens-above.com
WebWings from the Academy of Model Aeronautics at http://www.bsu.edu/academy/webwings
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