Steve was first introduced to this incredible teaching tool in 2001 while speaking at the U.S. Space Camp for Educators. As part of the week-long experience, teachers learned how to use Homer Hickam’s Rocket Boys with multi-grade levels and in a variety of subject areas to not only inspire students to work hard to see that their dreams come true, but to also introduce and reinforce skills and concepts in some very creative ways. The documents below are offered by the U.S. Space Camp and the Space Academy for Educators in an effort to bring the wonder, discovery, and exploration of space and rocketry into a wide variety of classrooms.
PVC Rocket Launcher
Use compressed air and PVC pipes to create an incredible rocket launcher!
Rocket Boys Interdisciplinary Unit – This is a novel study integrating core subject areas in an interdisciplinary unit where students will experience the underlying themes of space exploration, following your dreams, literary elements, and mining results in relation to the novel Rocket Boys.
Rocket Boys Unit Plan
Rocket Boys Curriculum Part 1
Rocket Boys Curriculum Part 2
Rocket Boys Curriculum Part 3
Rocket Boys Curriculum Part 4
Rocket Boys Hodgkin’s Disease Then and Now
Rocket Boys Picture of Homer’s Home in Coalwood
Rocket Boys Curriculum Websites
These resource materials are offered with permission by Space Academy for Educators and the U.S. Space Camp.