Here are some ideas of ways to use the novel Rocket Boys by Homer Hickman in your classroom.

 

 

1. Interdisciplinary unit for Rocket Boys by Kris Anderson

 

Course overview:

A novel study integrating core content 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.

 

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/uploads/images/cms_pdfs/rocket-boys-unit-plan.pdf

 

2. Reading Group Toolbox from the Homer Hickam Official site

 

http://www.homerhickam.com/groups/toolbox.shtml

 

3. Activities for various core content areas.

 

Reading Practice Quiz on Accelerated Reader -21 points

 

 

English/Language Arts

 

Mr. Hickam’s book is based on his experience growing up and not wanting to follow his father’s footsteps in the coal-mining career. As a writing exercise, have your students write about their own decisions in their future careers based on their parent’s occupations when they were growing up.

 

Personal Expressive writing

Reflective writing

 

Science

 

Rocket Boys is set in late 1950s and 60s. Create a timeline of influential political leaders, events, inventions, or important dates that happened during this time frame. Be sure to include NASA events. This should be a creative exercise in which the student decides to put in the timeline.

 

2.2 Students identify, analyze, and use patterns such as cycles and trends to understand past and present events and predict possible future events.

 

2.4 Students use the concept of scale and scientific models to explain the organization and functioning of living and nonliving things and predict other characteristics that might be observed.

 

2.6 Students understand how living and nonliving things change over time and the factors that influence the changes.

 

English/Language Arts

 

Homer Hickam, the author of Rocket Boys, has published several different articles on how he came to write the book and his thoughts on his proud finished product. Research different book reviews of Rocket Boys and combine them in an over all analysis.

 

Literary Writing

 

 

English/Language Arts

 

Compose a letter to an amateur rocketeer introducing yourself and asking at least three questions about rockets and their career. Please include your most curious question about rockets to make the letter more personable and creative.

 

Transactive Writing

Idea/Development Support

 

English/Language Arts

 

Miss Riley was a significant character in the book Rocket Boys. She is the teacher that helped Sonny and his friends get enrolled in the advanced math classes they needed for rocketry. Think about a teacher who influenced you to pursue a career and create an appreciation page for them and their efforts.

 

Reflective Writing

Idea/Development Support

 

Science

 

Research two coal mines in Western Kentucky and conduct personal interviews with an employee there via email, telephone, or face to face. Interviews should include basic questions about daily operations, community involvement, and the field of coal-mining.

 

2.3 Students identify and analyze systems and the ways their components work together or affect each other

 

2.4 Students use the concept of scale and scientific models to explain the organization and functioning of living and nonliving things and predict other characteristics that might be observed.

 

2.5 Students understand that under certain conditions nature tends to remain the same or move toward a balance.

 

 

Science

 

NASA is offering limited tickets to people who want to view the next rocket launch. Write a letter to NASA explaining why you would like to attend the launch and what you already know about rocket science.

 

2.1 Students understand scientific ways of thinking and working and use those methods to solve real-life problems.

 

2.3 Students identify and analyze systems and the ways their components work together or affect each other

 

2.5 Students understand that under certain conditions nature tends to remain the same or move toward a balance.