As part of their study of famous Black Americans, first grade students learned about the man who invented one of their favorite pool and summer fun resources – the Super Soaker.

Lonnie Johnson, an aerospace engineer and entrepreneur whose life work included a 12-year stint at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, invented the popular children’s water gun toy in 1990 and later became president of Johnson Research and Development Co., Inc. Johnson also invented the popular Nerf Gun.

Students enjoyed celebrating Johnson’s life works with a Super Soaker water gun adventure on the playground, of course! Students in both Karen Stephens’ and Jill Bobbitt’s classrooms took part in the lesson separately.