STEM Rocketry Project & Grant - Secondary

Following the success of the recent partnership with the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools, and a successful grant offering to over 40 schools in 2024, Immersive Education is once again pleased to invite applications for a STEM Rocketry Grant for our 2025 intake. Previous applicants and/or participants from previous grants are eligible and encouraged to re-apply for 2025 to further support STEM implementation in their schools.
  • The STEM Rocketry Project is suitable for students in Years 7-10. Within the project students design, build and launch their own bottle rockets, build and launch two ESTES model rockets, examine process to build their own model rocket through use of software such as OpenRocket. Students also explore three different methods of data collection, including building their own altimeter and using technology assisted collection methods. The STEM Rocketry Project covers a variety of Mathematics, Science, Technology and Engineering concepts such as; Measurement, Speed, Velocity, Acceleration, Trigonometric Calculations, Percentages and Percentage Change, Newtons Laws of Motion, Barrowman’s Equations, Critical & Creative Thinking and Engineering Design Principles. The program can be facilitated as an extra-curricular activity, stand alone STEM subject, as part of a Numeracy, Mathematics, Science or Design Technology unit or an integrated inquiry project.

  • The STEM Rocketry Grant subsidises the cost of implementing the project in each school, and will provide a limited number of successful schools with all the training and resources required to establish the project in their school. The total project cost is $10,000 per school with the grant subsidising $5,000 of the cost. The STEM Rocketry Project requires a co-contribution of $5,000 from the participating school. The co-contribution includes:

  • • Two face-to-face professional learning sessions for up to four teachers (and/or technicians). These professional learning sessions will assist with the developing understanding of both the theoretical and curriculum links for the STEM Rocketry Project. No knowledge is assumed of Rocketry concepts, so teachers with any level of experience are invited to join to engage in professional development, and be able to facilitate the project in their schools. The sessions also explores the practical implementation of the STEM Rocketry Project, with teachers provided with resources on the day to engage in the practical component. When combined with the theoretical components this will allow participants to get a first-hand feel for how the project can be delivered in their school context.

  • • Three live instructional professional learning webinar for teachers. This will assist with recapping both the theoretical and practical components of the course.

  • • All required physical resources
  • • 1 x Bottle Rocket Launcher and Airpump
  • • 12 x Firestreak (or equivalent) Rockets with Engines, Wadding & Recovery Mechanisms
  • • 12 x Additional Engines with different thrust for launch comparisons
  • • 6 x Complex Rockets with Engines, Wadding & Recovery Mechanisms
  • • 2 x Launch Platforms and Controllers
  • • 2 x Alti-tracks
  • • 1 x Launch Camera/Recorder
  • • 1 x Digital Altimeter
  • • 1 x Anemometer
  • • Teacher and student supporting resources

  • Professional Learning Dates:

  • 1) Monday February 10 2025 - 9:00am to 4:00pm – Location TBC (Face-to-Face Session)
  • 2) Tuesday February 11 2025 - 9:00am to 4:00pm – Location TBC (Face-to-Face Session)
  • 3) Thursday March 20 2025 - 4:00pm to 5:30pm - Zoom (Optional Webinar - Theoretical Components Recap)
  • 4) Wednesday March 27 2025 - 4:00pm to 5:30pm - Zoom (Optional Webinar - Practical Components Recap)
  • 5) Thursday April 24 2025 - 4:00pm to 5:30pm - Zoom (Optional Webinar - Extension Components Recap)

  • Who Should Attend?
  • This professional learning is best attended by a team of staff from each school. Support is provided for up to four staff from each school. These staff could comprise:

  • • School Leaders & Learning Area Leaders
  • • Classroom Teachers of Mathematics, Science or Technologies
  • • Laboratory Technicians

  • Applications for this grant will close 9:00am Friday 20 September 2024 (End of Term 3).
  • Successful applicants will be informed by Friday 11 October 2024.
  • Applications for second round positions can be made until 9:00am Friday 18 October 2024.
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