St. Mark’s Campus fifth grade students are taking their study of space to new heights. In connection with their Savvas Science unit on the solar system, students are using codable drones to bring concepts like rotation and revolution to life. After learning drone safety and experimenting with basic coding in the Blockly program, students participated in hands-on flight missions. They practiced flying their drones to model Earth’s rotation (spinning in place) and revolution (orbiting the Sun). In the days ahead, students will pursue more complex challenges, including simulating the orbits of the inner and outer planets and combining maneuvers to demonstrate multiple space concepts simultaneously. “These activities not only deepen students’ understanding of astronomy but also provide them with opportunities to problem-solve, collaborate, and experience real-world applications of coding and flight technology,” said David Sandlin, Innovation Instructor.