Just before spring break, students at Wolverine Academy turned science, math and storytelling into an unforgettable experience during their Quarter 3 project exhibition, The Rocket Chronicles.
At the center of the project: rockets.
Students were challenged to design and build rockets that aligned with key scientific principles, including lift and drag coefficients, Newton’s Laws of Motion, and the balance between center of mass and center of pressure to maximize flight performance.
But the learning didn’t stop at design.
Each student presented their work publicly, explaining the decisions behind their rocket builds and the science that informed them. As part of their presentations, students calculated their rocket’s projected apex height using trigonometric ratios — demonstrating not just understanding, but the ability to apply complex math in real time.
Following their presentations, students launched their rockets, putting their designs to the test in front of a live audience.
The exhibition also incorporated a creative element. Students developed original comic strips highlighting significant historical events in which rocket science played a major role, blending research, storytelling and visual communication into their projects.
The result was a well-rounded demonstration of learning that extended far beyond a traditional classroom assignment.
Students engaged their audience with confidence, clearly communicating both the “how” and the “why” behind their work — a hallmark of the Wolverine Academy model.
The event drew a strong turnout, including Bayfield High School students, administrative staff and Wolverine Academy families, all of whom had the opportunity to see project-based learning in action.
By the end of the exhibition, one thing was clear: students were not only mastering academic standards, but also building the confidence, communication skills and real-world understanding that will serve them well beyond high school.
As Masterson put it, the event truly was “a blast.”
