Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Mr. Rogers science students learn how to make things float into the air.

•April 12, 2017•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

It’s a wonderful day in the neighborhood - that neighborhood being Mr. Troy Roger’s seventh grade science class as they prepare to launch an experiment on which they have been working.

In the school atrium a large clutch of colorful balloons awaits as part of the experiment. Upstairs in the classroom Rogers explains that the 16 students have been watching the animated film, “Up” in which a grumpy old man attaches a bazillion balloons to his house and floats off to adventures.

The students have been challenged to estimate how many balloons it takes to lift their small popsicle house off the ground.

He started this experiment five years ago. Helium is expensive for the balloons so they are especially grateful to Ellen Bernius of the Flower Pot for her generous helium filled balloon donation for this learning experience.

This is a class project- Rogers makes the assignment and the rules while the students work together to construct the popsicle house, make the calculations, organize the balloons, etc.      Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.