October Sky Study Guide
Completion
Complete each statement.
At the beginning of the movie, what was the radio announcement about?
How many minutes did it take for Sputnik to orbit the earth?
Dr. Wernher Von Braun was the _________ country’s rocket scientist. (American or Russian)
What sport was Homer Hickam trying out for?
What type of troubles was the mine experiencing?
Did Homer make the team?
Where did Homer and his friends first hear the broadcast of Sputnik?
Who was the science nerd who knew all the details of Sputnik?
Describe what Homer and the town’s folk saw in the night sky.
What was Homer’s mother’s advice when he said he was going to build a rocket?
What happened on Homer’s first rocket attempt?
What famous American Rocket Scientist was Homer writing letters to?
What did Quentin think Homer wanted when he came by in the Cafeteria?
Why did Homer become friends with Quentin?
What did they make their rocket body out of?
Why did Mr. Bykovski help weld the rocket?
What did Homer’s teacher want Homer and his friends to do with the rockets?
What was Homer’s teacher’s name?
Where did the first rocket go?
What was Homer’s dad reaction to his rocket hobby?
What physical ailment had the mine given Homer’s dad?
Where did Homer’s dad put Homer’s rocket stuff?
Instead of being hillbillies what did Homer want to get into?
How did O’Dell’s father die?
What name did they give to the rocket launch site?
What did Homer’s dad donate to the project?
What are the ingredients in the first rocket fuel that Quentin made?
What happened when Quentin dumped his rocket fuel in the Chemistry Lab drains?
What happened to Bykovski after helping Homer with the weld?
How did the Rocket Boys afford the expensive metal to make their nozzle?
According to Quentin, why did all the early rockets explode?
Where did the Rocket boys find their source of undiluted alcohol?
Why did the all the high school kids come to see one of Homers launch attempts?
What did Homer get in the mail for his birthday?
What did Ms. Riley get for Homer?
Why was the principal discouraging Ms Riley on trying to give the students hope of leaving
Coalwood?
What happened to Homer after he got his name in the Newspaper and why?
How did Homer’s dad feel about O’Dell’s real dad?
After the fire at Cape Coalwood, did Homer get the girl of his dreams?
Was there another woman who found Homer’s rocket efforts worthwhile?
What happened to Bykovski in the mine accident?
What happened to Homer’s dad in the same accident?
Why did Homer go to the mine instead of Jim?
What did Homer see in the night sky as he descended the mine shaft?
What had Homer’s dad given his wife on their honeymoon instead of diamonds?
Why did Ike Bykovski stay in the mine instead of returning to the machine shop?
Why didn’t Homer’s dad try to send him back to school when he returned to work?
What was the real reason that Ms Riley wasn’t going to school?
What advice did Ms. Riley give Homer concerning career choice?
Using the Rocket Science book, what did Homer discover about the forest fire started by the
rocket?
Using the math from the Rocket Science book what was Homer and Quentin able to find?
What did start the fire in Welch?
After winning the regional Science Fair, how many students got to go to Indianapolis and who
was/were they?
Did Homer receive his father’s blessings to go to the National Science Fair?
What happened to the Rocket Display before the judging was done?
What famous person congratulated Homer on winning the National Science Fair first prize and
Homer yet did not recognize him?
After returning from the fair, where did Homer find Ms. Riley?
How many Rocket Boys got college scholarships?
Who was Homer’s real hero? Homer said it wasn’t Von Braun so who do you think it was and
why?
What unexpected person showed up for the last launch and how did Homer honor him?
Where did the Rocket boys find work after their scholarships?
What happened to Ms Riley and Homer’s dad and what caused it?
Are you encouraged to do great things or just taught to settle for average by your teachers and
parents? Explain. What is important to you? How will you reach your dreams?