Readability:  About sixth grade level

Possible hard words: Proper names: McKinley Classical Junior Academy, XPRIZE Foundation, Becky Smith, Meramec Community College, Nicholas Moore, Clifford Sykes, Victoria Taylor, David Epperson
Other words: sub-orbital, reusable, consecutive, parachutes, pressurized, shishkabob, helicopter, reentry 

BEFORE READING: To check to see how well the young reader is likely to be able to fluently read the article, have him or her read the sixteen names and words from the list. If no more than three cause difficulty, suggest the reader read the article silently.  If four to seven are missed, have the reader read the article aloud to you.  If eight or more words are missed, you volunteer to read the article aloud.  Tell the young readers in every instance that question will be asked at the end of the reading.

DURING READING: Tell the child reading silently to ask for help with any unknown words.  For the child reading aloud, supply any unknown words immediately to keep the reading fluent. If you read aloud, model expressive and fluent reading.

AFTER READING: Questions such as those that follow can be used to promote discussion and check for comprehension.

1. What adult invention was the XPRESS Foundation offering a 10 million-dollar prize for?
2. What were the rockets built by kids in the project expected to do?
3. What were two problems with Becky Smith’s efforts to build a nose cone to slow her rocket’s return to earth?
4. What was Clifford Sykes thinking about using a shiskabob stick for?
5. Have you any ideas about rockets? Would you like to try launching one that you built?  Why or why not?