HISTORY, physics and maths came together in an explosive mix this week as Walmore Hill Primary School pupils launched home-made rockets.

The exercise on Walmore Common was part of a history and science-inspired ‘Stargazer Week’.

The setting was appropriate as the common was used by the RAF in the Second World War for bomb practice and pupils were treated to lectures by a local historian and landowner about the role the area played helping the RAF.

In the early 1940s it was used by the Air Ministry to train crews of aircraft including the de Havilland Mosquito and Avro Anson in their bombing manoeuvres.

The original ‘look-out post’ is still standing on what is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

To give a taste of how the RAF plotted its targets the children were given charts and mathematical instruments to measure the distance their class-room creations travelled.

Rather than petrol or gas, the kids created 19 fizzy-pop bottle rockets that were propelled to heights of nearly 140 feet, powered by nothing more than rain water and compressed air.

The missiles work by pouring a small amount of water into a plastic bottle, which sits in a launcher attached to a two-metre pipe.

The pipe leads to a hand-pump that forces air into the bottle, when the pressure reaches a given point the rocket launches with a whoosh, and the high speed departure leaves a stream of water in its wake.

Head teacher Brett Stevenson, said: “The history of Walmore Common is awe inspiring and we brought it to life with a classic science and physics project that also gave the kids a good soaking.

“The Rocket Project is part of our Stargazer Week, which is based on a theme from National Curriculum that aims to make lessons more engaging, meaningful and relevant.”