Science Club leaves the classroom to launch rockets!
Controversy Rockets the Hico Science Club
Although May 20th was filled with success and excitement, the day was tarnished by Jeff Gentner’s attempt at 3D printed rocket parts. Each part that Mr. Gentner printed ended up with a loud explosion or an epic crash. Mr. Gentner said in a public statement, “This is my first year using a 3D printer and I apologize to each student that took a chance on my new technology. I will do better next year. I am sorry.” Regardless of the Gentner cloud hanging over the launch site, the Hico students celebrated the amazing day.
The Science Club was visited by the Tarleton State Aeronautics team. Steve Merwin discussed their multiple NASA competitions and displayed the team’s 8 foot Tarleton rocket. The club was also visited by James Samola and the South Loop Pawn and Hobby Shop. Mr. Samola put on a remote control airplane show and unfortunately (or fortunately) crashed two of his airplanes.
The day was highlighted by 20 students launching their hand built rockets. They competed for the following awards: Highest Launch, Most Accurate Landing, Mass Destruction and the Star Award. The winners were Dallas Armstrong (Most Accurate), Brandon Pollard (Mass Destruction) and Beau Broumley (Highest Launch and Star Award). Beau also won the yearlong competition for a high tech Sphero robot.
The launch day concludes the 2015-2016 year for the Science Club. The year was filled with lessons on electricity, robots and rockets with an emphasis on STEM and making the classroom fun. The club is sponsored by George Bales, Lee Cole, James Samola and Schreiber Foods. The club is mentored by Dustin Neighbors, Jarrod Sumpter, Brandon Bowers, Kim Vinson and Jeff Gentner. A special thanks to Mrs. Vinson and her years of teaching at Hico Schools.
Science Club presents to the school board!
Science Club builds rockets
The students built their own rockets. For the first time, some of the students used 3D printed rocket parts. The rockets were supplied by James Samola and South Loop Pawn and Hobby in Stephenville. The club is mentored by Dustin Neighbors, Brandon Bowers, Kim Vinson and Jeff Gentner.
Science Club writes robot program to draw letters.
The Hico Science Club met on March 31st to program robots. With 17 students in attendance, they worked in 9 teams. Each team programmed their Scribbler robot to autonomously draw a letter. When finished, they were proud of their sign that read, “Hico Robots!” The club had numerous breakthroughs this year. They had a curved ‘H’, a fancy ‘T’, an incredible ‘S’ and a block style ‘C’. The students also prepared for their presentation to the school board on April 18th.
Science Club learns to program robots!
The Hico Science Club had their February meeting and learned how to program robots. Schreiber Foods in Stephenville has provided 9 robots for the science club. Using a GUI interface, the students learned how to download their own program to the Scribbler S2. They learned about input and outputs. The students wrote a program to avoid obstacles and play a song if it got stuck. They finished off the day by writing a program to find a flashlight in a dark room.
The robots are called “Scribbler” because they have a hole in the center for a Sharpie pen. Next month, the club will learn to draw with the robots. The club is mentored by Kim Vinson, Brandon Bowers and Jeff Gentner.
The robots are called “Scribbler” because they have a hole in the center for a Sharpie pen. Next month, the club will learn to draw with the robots. The club is mentored by Kim Vinson, Brandon Bowers and Jeff Gentner.
We learned about electricity with multi-meters
The Hico Science Club met on Thursday the 14th to continue learning about electricity. The day was sponsored by Lee Cole and Cole’s Hardware. The students learned about voltage with 9 volt batteries and multi-meters. They found that voltage could be doubled by putting two batteries in series. They also learned about resistance and conductivity. Using their multi-meters, they found that metal and pencil leads are good conductors. Using the pencils, they were able to draw their own circuits and verify them with the meters.
The club will meet again in February and begin programming robots. Thanks to Lee Cole, each student was able to keep their multi-meter.
The club will meet again in February and begin programming robots. Thanks to Lee Cole, each student was able to keep their multi-meter.
We made LED flashlights
Using a battery, 2 switches and a LED, we built AndLights and OrLights. Depending on how we connected the circuit, we could turn on the LED with one button OR the other button. We could also require one button AND the other button. We learned that the 9 volt battery supplies 9 volts (really?) of DC power. Some brave students tested the battery on their tongue. We learned that switches/buttons control the flow of electricity to the LED.
With two switches, we can wire up the words AND/OR. We learned that an LED is a light emitting diode. A diode will only let the electricity flow in one direction. If you wire it up backwards, it won't work. The students were able to choose either blue or white LEDs. Each student successfully wired up their own light.
With two switches, we can wire up the words AND/OR. We learned that an LED is a light emitting diode. A diode will only let the electricity flow in one direction. If you wire it up backwards, it won't work. The students were able to choose either blue or white LEDs. Each student successfully wired up their own light.
Hico Science Club Learns About Chemicals
The Hico Science Club met on November the 5th and learned about chemical reactions. With three experiments,
they learned about the density of liquids, a liquid that can act like a solid and how to make Silly Putty. In the
first experiment, the students made lava lamps by combining cooking oil, water, food coloring and Alka Seltzer.
For the first time ever, one student had the great idea to add glitter to the lava lamps! With the second experiment, the students learned that a liquid can act like a solid. By combining corn starch and water, they made a slimy goo that could also be as hard as a rock. Last, they made Silly Putty by combining Elmer’s Glue and borax.
The next meeting will be on December 7th when the club will learn about electricity by making OrLight and AndLights. The club is sponsored by Schreiber Foods, Cole’s Hardware and Stephenville Pawn and Hobby. The club is mentored by Kim Vinson, Matt Rucker, Brandon Bowers and Jeff Gentner.
they learned about the density of liquids, a liquid that can act like a solid and how to make Silly Putty. In the
first experiment, the students made lava lamps by combining cooking oil, water, food coloring and Alka Seltzer.
For the first time ever, one student had the great idea to add glitter to the lava lamps! With the second experiment, the students learned that a liquid can act like a solid. By combining corn starch and water, they made a slimy goo that could also be as hard as a rock. Last, they made Silly Putty by combining Elmer’s Glue and borax.
The next meeting will be on December 7th when the club will learn about electricity by making OrLight and AndLights. The club is sponsored by Schreiber Foods, Cole’s Hardware and Stephenville Pawn and Hobby. The club is mentored by Kim Vinson, Matt Rucker, Brandon Bowers and Jeff Gentner.
Tarleton Aeronautics Team Visits Hico Science Club
On October 20th, the Hico Science Club hosted the Tarleton State Aeronautics Team. Michael, Alex, Katt, Kaitlin and Colby are part of the team that won 2nd place and $15,000 at the 2015 NASA Mars Ascent Vehicle Challenge. They shared their knowledge of rockets, robotic arms, autonomous launch systems and 3D printing. They helped the Hico Science Club in preparation of their rocket launch at the end of the school year. The Tarleton students will return to Hico in May when both the Hico and Tarleton students will launch their
homemade rockets.
The Science Club’s next meeting will be on November 3rd when they will learn about liquid density and make their own lava lamps. The science club is mentored by Kim Vinson, Matt Rucker and Jeff
Gentner.
homemade rockets.
The Science Club’s next meeting will be on November 3rd when they will learn about liquid density and make their own lava lamps. The science club is mentored by Kim Vinson, Matt Rucker and Jeff
Gentner.
Officers Are Elected for Hico Science Club 2015-2016
The Hico Science Club elected officers during their first meeting on September 24th. The officers are Isaac Nava – President, Cheyenne Bullard – Vice President and Kimberly Tomlinson – Secretary. The club also voted on their club name and slogan. The club’s name this year is “Demolition Rockets” which was created by Dallas Armstrong. The club’s slogan this year is “You don’t have to be smart to do science, you just need a brain.” By Kaatje Jarrel.
The next meeting will be on October 20th when the club will make lava lamps. This year, the club will learn about electricity, robots and rockets. For the first time, the science club will print their own rockets with a 3D printer!
The club is mentored by Kim Vinson, Brandon Bowers, Matt Rucker and Jeff Gentner. The club is sponsored by Schreiber Foods, Cole Hardware and South Loop Pawn and Hobby.
The next meeting will be on October 20th when the club will make lava lamps. This year, the club will learn about electricity, robots and rockets. For the first time, the science club will print their own rockets with a 3D printer!
The club is mentored by Kim Vinson, Brandon Bowers, Matt Rucker and Jeff Gentner. The club is sponsored by Schreiber Foods, Cole Hardware and South Loop Pawn and Hobby.
This Year's T-Shirt Design
Someone Will Win a Robot!
Like last year, we will have a year long competition and the winner will received a Vexplorer robot! Points will be accumulated according to attendance, participation and wearing our super-cool T-Shirts.
Last year's winner was Jayden Crouch. Congratulations Jayden!
Who will win a robot this year?
Last year's winner was Jayden Crouch. Congratulations Jayden!
Who will win a robot this year?