SCIENCE FAIR DRAWS 500 SIXTH ANNUAL PROGRAM WAS BIGGEST YET, SAY ORGANIZERS.Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer PALMDALE - The Westside Union School District kicked off its sixth annual Super Science Saturday with miniature hot-air balloon races, model rocket Model rocketry is a hobby similar to building model airplanes, where rocket-shaped models are flown vertically and recovered by a variety of means (see Recovery below). Model Rocketry Model rocketry usually involves commercially-manufactured black powder rocket motors. exhibitions and flights of balsa wood Noun 1. balsa wood - strong lightweight wood of the balsa tree used especially for floats balsa Ochroma lagopus, balsa - forest tree of lowland Central America having a strong very light wood; used for making floats and rafts and in crafts model planes. With more than 500 students from fourth through eighth grades showing off their futuristic models and scientific savvy, this year's science fair was the biggest yet, officials said. ``He looks forward to this every year,'' Kelly Mason said of her 12- year-old son, Joshua. ``He starts working on a project for the next fair right after the last one. ``It's just great to see him so involved in something, and he's learning while he does it. Don't tell him that, though. He might quit.'' The event was so popular that hundreds of kids were already lined up outside Joe Walker Middle School by the 7:45 a.m. start time. Students at each of the district's 10 elementary and middle schools were divided into teams, which each chose a problem-solving project. Each team and its coach spent lots of time in advance preparing for the event. Middle school students competed in 10 categories, including balsa plane construction and flight, soda bottle rockets A bottle rocket is a very small skyrocket. A typical bottle rocket consists of a rocket engine attached to a stabilizing stick. The user can place the stick in an empty bottle (hence the name), and ignite the rocket engine; the mouth of the bottle guides the stick, stabilizing the , metric mastery and hot-air balloon races. Elementary students competed in barge and bridge building, bottle rocket design, a reflection relay and two knowledge tests. ``They're pretty tough competitions,'' said 10-year-old Thomas Garcia, who participated in the bottle rocket contest. ``Some of these other guys' rockets are really good. But it's fun anyway.'' Winners received gift certificates and trophies donated by local sponsors. Organizers of the daylong day·long adj. Lasting through the whole day. adv. Through the day; all day. Adj. 1. daylong - lasting through an entire day event say they are already planning to add more contests to next year's event. Saturday's program was co-sponsored by the West Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley Educational Foundation, Lockheed Martin For the former company, see . Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is a leading multinational aerospace manufacturer and advanced technology company formed in 1995 by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta. Leadership Association and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department This article is about the Los Angeles County Sherriff's Department, not to be confused with the smaller Los Angeles County Police The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is a local law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. . CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) A bottle rocket takes off at the sixth annual Super Science Saturday, which drew more than 500 budding scientists. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer (2 -- color) Shelly McNitt, left, and Heather Sirex, both 11, watch their hot-air balloon lift off during Super Science Saturday. |
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