WEST MELBOURNE, Fla. — A group of middle-school students became rocket-builders Wednesday while learning all about STEM.

• Kids learn STEM by building rockets out of household items
• Students in West Melbourne used straws, paper, tape

Thanks to a partnership with Melbourne-based Harris Corporation and the Space Foundation out of Colorado, the kids learned how to make tiny rockets out of everyday items such as straws, paper, and tape.

Then, they had a chance to "launch" their creations to see how they flew.

"It's a straw, but the wings are what make it go up and fly. It's important to get the wings right," said Trey Hancock, a seventh-grader at Central Middle School in West Melbourne.

The students participated in other science, technology, engineering and math activities all day long.