October Sky

Recently, the Omega Unit has watched a movie called "October Sky". This movie features important connections to science and math. It also includes connections that can be made to character education and the C.A.R.E.S. acronym.

Character Education
C.A.R.E.S.
C.cooperation
A.assertion
R.responsibility
E.empathy
S.self-control

Several instances in "October Sky" had the viewers thinking about the aspects of character in the "C.A.R.E.S." acronym and other important facets of character. Some of these instances include:
-determination: Harvey showed absolute determination to learn about rockets in the beginning. Then he persisted and tested out different model rockets.
-respect: Homer respected the principal when he was questioned about his rocket in school, even though he already had a teacher's permission to bring it in.
-cooperation: The boys worked well together in the process of building the model rockets.
-responsibility: The boys took the responsibility of warning the train that the train tracks were unsafe to ride on.
-responsibility: Homer showed responsibility by temporarily dropping out of school to work on the mine in place of his father.

Science and Math Connections
Several science and math connections were made in "October Sky."
One connection to physical science is related to the rockets. The rockets that were launched in the sky had to come down because of gravity.
A connection that can be made to another type of science in this movie, is chemical science and the incident in the science classroom in the movie. A chemical reaction was made in the sink and caused a fire.
A math connection is made to parabolas. There was a parabola involved in the path of the flight of one of Homer's rockets.