Model Rockets LEVELED BOOK • K

A Reading A–Z Level K Leveled Book

Model
Word Count: 407

Rockets

Written by Joanne Mattern

Visit [Link] [Link]

for thousands of books and materials.
Model Rockets
Photo Credits:
Front cover; pages 10, 15: Sarah Cebulski/© Learning A–Z; back cover:
© Michael Doolittle/Alamy; page 3: © Drew Myers/Corbis; page 4: © Dale,
Greg/National Geographic Creative; page 5 (left): © SuperStock/SuperStock;
page 5 (right): © SuperStock/Corbis; page 6 (top): © ZUMA Press, Inc/Alamy;
page 6 (bottom): © Mark Richard/PhotoEdit; page 7 (main): © Tony Freeman/
PhotoEdit; page 7 (inset): © Allison Diaz/MCT/Landov; page 9: © Fancy
Collection/SuperStock; pages 11, 13 (bottom): Craig Frederick/© Learning A–Z;
page 12: © Tim Wynkoop/Express-Times/Landov; pages 13 (top), 14 (both): ©
nose cone Brian Cahn/ZUMA Press/Corbis

Page 3: A father and daughter work together to build a large model rocket.

Page 4: A father and son watch a model rocket blast off from a launch pad.
body tube
shock cord

shock cord mount

shroud lines
parachute

launch lug

recovery wadding

engine mount

rocket engine

fins
Model Rockets
engine hook Level K Leveled Book Correlation
© Learning A–Z LEVEL K
Written by Joanne Mattern
Written by Joanne Mattern Fountas & Pinnell J
All rights reserved. Reading Recovery 17
[Link] [Link]
DRA 18
 Table of Contents Liftoff!

Liftoff! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Three . . . two . . . one . . . liftoff!

A model rocket shoots into the sky.
The History of Rockets . . . . . . . . . . 5
The rocket can fly up to 1,500 feet
Parts of a Model Rocket . . . . . . . . . 6 (457 m) high!

At the Launchpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Watching these small rockets fly can

be fun and exciting. Model rockets
Clubs and Competitions . . . . . . . . 12
aren’t just for fun, though. They also
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 teach us about science and space.
Model Rockets • Level K 3 4
Kids have been building and painting model rockets for decades.

The History of Rockets

People in China invented rockets
about eight hundred years ago. They
filled tubes with gunpowder and
shot them at their enemies. Later, The pieces of a model rocket need to be carefully put together (top).
A finished rocket is ready to fly (bottom).
scientists built rockets that could
Parts of a Model Rocket
go into space. Starting in the 1950s,
people began building model A model rocket kit comes with all
rockets for fun. the parts a rocket needs.
Model Rockets • Level K 5 6
 Steps in a Model Rocket’s Flight

4 The rocket engine

makes a small
upward explosion
that pops the nose
5 The
cone off, pulling
parachute
the parachute out.
opens and
slows the
3 The engine rocket’s fall.
stops and the
rocket coasts
upward.

6 The rocket
returns safely
to Earth.
2 The engine
pushes the rocket
faster and higher.

7 The rocket touches down. Once the

parachute is repacked and the engine
is replaced, the rocket can fly again.
Nose cones and rocket bodies come in many shapes and sizes.
1 The engine
A model rocket’s body is a long starts and the
rocket lifts off.
tube made of cardboard or plastic.
The nose cone fits into the top of Fins help the rocket fly straight. The
the tube. The size and shape of a engine burns fuel to push the rocket
rocket’s body and nose cone can into the air. A parachute helps the
change how it flies. rocket fall safely back to Earth.
Model Rockets • Level K 7 8
 At the Launchpad
The only place to launch a rocket is
in an open space. The launch area
needs to be far away from people
and buildings. A large field or a
playground is a good spot.

First, set up
the launchpad.
Place the rocket
over the guide
wire on the
pad. The guide
wire keeps the
rocket pointing A girl connects the wire that will allow
the controller to start the rocket engine.
Painting a rocket is often the final step of building.
straight up
People like to make their rockets when it lifts off. Connect the launch
look great. Many people paint their controller to the rocket engine. Then
rockets with different colors and step back and press the button on the
designs. Every rocket is one of controller to start the engine. Whoosh!
a kind! The rocket flies up and away.

Model Rockets • Level K 9 10

 Even in a large launch
area, a rocket can get
stuck in a tree as it
floats back to the
ground on its parachute.
If a rocket gets stuck in
a tall tree or on a power
line, it should be left
there for safety reasons.

A Cub Scout launches a model rocket as his den leader watches during an
event in New Jersey.
Staying Safe
Model rockets are fun, but they can be dangerous. Follow these Clubs and Competitions
rules to stay safe:
• Use only safe materials and engines in your rocket. People who fly model rockets often
• Always launch your rocket outside in an open area.
• Make sure there is no dry grass or any other fire hazard at the
join model rocket clubs. Schools or
launch site. hobby groups can have information
• Make sure everyone is at least 15 feet (4.5 m) away before you
launch your rocket. about model rocket clubs. A science
• Count down before you launch. center or museum might have a
• Ask an adult for help if you have any questions.
model rocket club, too.
Model Rockets • Level K 11 12
 A team from Michigan gets its rocket ready during a competition.
One hundred teams competed in this rocketry challenge in Virginia.

Many people enter model rocket In the United States, students

competitions. They set off rockets between twelve and eighteen can
and see which one flies the highest enter the Team America Rocketry
and the fastest. Model rocket Challenge. Every spring, one
competitions are held all over hundred teams compete to become
the world. the best in the country. The winners
go on to compete against other
teams from around the world.
The rockets
used in the
Team America
Rocketry
Challenge
carry eggs.
If the egg
Getting started with model rockets doesn’t have to take a lot of money. breaks, the
A basic kit can cost as little as $10 or $20. team loses!

Model Rockets • Level K 13 14

 Glossary
competitions rivalries between
(n.) businesses, teams, or
individuals for something
desired (p. 13)
designs (n.) the appearance or style of
something built or made
(p. 9)
engine (n.) a machine, usually with
moving parts, that uses
power to create motion
(p. 8)
hobby (n.) an activity done for fun
and relaxation (p. 12)
model (n.) a usually smaller version
of an object made to look
like the real thing (p. 4)
Kids watch as a rocket soars high into the sky.
parachute (n.) a large canopy made of
Model rockets are a fun way to
fabric that greatly slows
learn about science. Who knows the movement of someone
how high a model rocket can take or something through the
your imagination? air (p. 8)

Model Rockets • Level K 15 16