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A launch-day setback gave Flint Hill Elementary School students a memorable lesson in science when their homemade rockets initially refused to leave the ground.

Students tested the rockets on the school’s baseball diamond Thursday, October 9, as part of Baking Soda Rocket Day. More than 50 Fairfax County Public Schools elementary schools held the event in recognition of World Space Week, observed October 4-10.

First graders conducted their launches during kindergarten recess, drawing about 50 kindergarteners away from the playground to watch. The children repeatedly counted down from five until a rocket finally lifted off at the cry of “blast off.”

Earlier in the week, aerospace engineer and author Emily “The Space Gal” Calandrelli taught students how to construct the rockets. Calandrelli hosts Emily’s Wonderlab on Netflix and Emily’s Science Lab on YouTube.

The students made their rockets from two-liter bottles, pencils and wine corks, using white vinegar and baking soda as fuel. Some classes covered their rockets with student signatures, while others added messages describing hopes and dreams they wanted to “launch.”

The activity demonstrated chemical reactions while reinforcing Calandrelli’s lesson that failure can lead to progress. “Good things come to those who fail,” she told the students.

That message became especially relevant for the second graders, whose rockets did not launch at first. Teachers tested several possible explanations by shaking the bottles, adding baking soda and moving the rockets from a table to the ground. They also texted another participating school for advice.

The problem turned out to be the corks, which were too long and rested against the table. Raising the rockets higher finally allowed them to lift off.

Students used the experience to explore variables and hypotheses. Second grader James said they wondered how far the rockets would travel and learned that the baking soda helped produce the explosive launch.

Classmate Caroline said she prefers hands-on science activities because students can see the fizzing and hear the loud noise during liftoff.

Principal Eben Montaquila said unusual shared experiences can leave a lasting impression on students.

“Days like Rocket Day are days the students will remember,” Montaquila said. “When they go home tonight, they’ll have something to talk about at the dinner table.”