Rocket Candy

By: Mattie Earley and Katy Dobson

Sonny began stringing up

extension cords in preparation for

the launch

O’Dell set up the protective

gear for th

e boys to wear

while they would make the

rocket candy

The boys began cooking

the rocket candy using

supplies that were

“borrowed” from Sonny’s

mom

Sonny’s mom catches the boys

making the rocket candy, but

just tells them to not blow

themselves up.

Homer Sr. tells Sonny

his plan of showing him

what a real engineer

does

The boys launch the Auk

XII with a huge crowd

watching and cheering,

except for th

e football

players

After launching the rocket, the boys

use an invention, made by Quentin,

and trigonometry to figure out the

height and distance that the rocket

traveled

The rocket boys return to their

launch pad to find the football

players, led by Buck, te

aring

the blockhouse apart

Timeline

Just as the two groups of

boys were about to clash,

Tag Farmer pulled up and

made Buck fix the

blockhouse

Sonny skips church by

saying that he was worn out

from doing all of his school

work while his mother

indirectly calls him a

heathen

Sonny leaves the house to

meet his father at the mine

and they go down together

into it

They explore the mine and

take a man-trip to the face of

the mountain where he

almost gets lost trying to

follow his dad

He eventually caught up

when his father had stopped

to watch one of the

continuous-mining machines

where the noise of the miner

was near-deafening

While Sonny is wandering

around, his uncle stops him

and pokes the ceiling where

he had just been standing and

that section of rock caved in

Timeline Continued

Homer Sr. admits things to Sonny that he wouldn’t expect from his father, then Sonny later tells him that he doesn’t want to be a mine engineer, but an engineer under Dr. Van Braun

Sonny’s mother finds out about Sonny going into the mine and breaks down in tears and she believes that Homer will kill the boys by trying to get them into the coal mines and he shows her what he breathes in every day, but she only cares about the boys

Song

Rocket by Kid Cudi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uamUA2CHRLM We chose this song because not only of the title, but because the lyrics are about a group of friends building a rocket and seeing how far they can make it fly.

Quotes

• “She looked at us one by one “I’m getting tired of saying this: Don’t blow yourself up!” pg.188

• “I puffed up a bit. This was something he’d never ask Jim to do.”- Sonny Hickam pg. 189

Pg. 185 ~ Saltpeter in a pot

The boys sprinkled the saltpeter into the pot, to make the mixture.

Pg. 186 ~ melting rocket fuel

Needed to pour sugar in pot.

Melting rocket fuel, to power the rocket.

Pg. 187 ~ the boys experimenting

Sonny’s mom said, “They’re not stupid, they’re scientists!”

Pg. 187 ~ making rocket candy

When the boys were making rocket candy, the pot “blew up” and the candy erupted.

Pg. 188 ~ engineering

Sonny ‘s dad found out about his career he wanted to pursue, engineering. Sonny always spent time planning out rockets that could fly to the moon.

Pg. 189 ~ Testing rockets

Sonny and Sherman were going to go test their rockets, until they got the correct measurements to make the rocket a success.

Pg. 190 ~ 1st attempt for rocket- failed

Sonny and Sherman’s first rocket attempt failed, it lost thrust and fell back down.

Pg. 191 ~ What went wrong?

The rockets nozzle could not take the heat. The nozzle was corroded, rapid oxidation!

Pg. 192 ~ carpenter?

Tag came along and told Buck that he needs to learn some carpenter skills, since some boards came loose on the blockhouse.

Pg. 193 ~ Trip to the mine

After Sonny’s mom left for church, Sonny took a trip to the mines with his dad for the first time.

Pg. 194 ~ Engineering in mine

Since Sonny found a passion for engineering he figured he could do engineering for mining. So his dad informs him on all his daily tasks that will have to be accomplished in order for him to be able to become a stable, responsible engineer for mines.

Pg 195 ~ going down in the mine

Once Sonny gets all dressed up in his mining gear, his dad takes him down into the mine(underground), for the first time.

Pg 196 ~ heading down to mine

Sonny gets all tense and freaks out the moment the cart starts squeaking and pulling them down into the mine.

Pg. 197 ~ black tunnel

Sonny’s dad decided to go even further down into ground. So they had to squeeze into a little cart and shoot down a tunnel for what seemed like twenty minutes.

Pg. 198 ~ Diamonds

They occasionally found diamonds, and once when they found something similar to diamonds Sonny’s dad brought it home for his mother and left a note saying, I know you have always wanted diamonds. And she said no, I just have wanted more of your time.

Pg. 199 ~ Mine machinery

Sonny almost got lost in the mine, but luckily found his dad watching the machinery do its job.

Pg. 200 ~ Rock fell

While in the mine, a huge rock fell. Sonny almost got hit by it.

Pg. 201 ~ Admittance

Sonny and his dad finally made a bond, Sonny’s dad was telling Sonny how he loved going to the mine, and sharing thoughts with him that he never expected him to share.

Pg. 202 ~ Mining is important

Sonny’s dad was telling him, that mining is very important. They need the best workers, the strongest. Because if coal mining fails, then steel fails and then the country fails.

Pg. 203 ~ truth

Sonny finally told his dad, that he didn’t want to be a mining engineer but a engineer for Dr. von Braun, and his dad was disappointed but tried not to show it.

Pg. 204 ~ telling mom

Sonny’s mom found out that Sonny went to the mine, without her knowing. She busted out into tears and then they admitted that Sonny might want to become a mining engineer.

Pg. 205 ~ conflict

Sonny’s mom believes that Sonny’s dad will ruin her boys by putting them in coal mines. Dad throws coal dust up in the air to show her what he breathes in everyday, but it doesn’t matter to her, all she cares about is her boys.