Your kids can use paper and tape to design breath-powered rockets in minutes. See whose rocket can fly the farthest! This activity has your child exploring physics, space, and things that fly while also helping them develop important skills like:
- fine motor skills (cutting, taping)
- making observations and predictions (Does how hard you blow into the straw affect how far the rocket goes? How does the angle you launch your rocket affect the distance it travels? Does it make a difference if you are outside instead of inside?)
- perseverance (completing the project, making multiple attempts at “firing” the rocket)
- measurement (how far did the rocket launch)
Supplies Needed:
- Tape
- Straws
- Plastic Pipettes
- Scissors
- Crayons
- Rocket template
Instructions
- Have your child color the rockets and then cut them out.
- Attach the pipette to the back of the rocket using tape.
- Slip a straw into your pipette, and you are ready to launch!
- Have your child put the straw in their mouth with the rocket pointed up. Have them draw in a big puff of air, and then exhale! Watch their rocket take off!
Extend the Learning: Measure how far the rockets go using different things to measure the distance. For example, how many spoon lengths did it go? How many toy cars (or legos, blocks, whatever you want to use!). Compare the numbers (see chart below for an example).
| What I Used to Measure | How Many |
| Spoon | 6 |
| Toy car | 11 |
| Ruler | 2 (for older children, use the actual inches measured) |
| My hand | 15 |
More Extending the Learning: Make up a story about where the rocket will go in space. Where will it land? What will be there? Write down the story so you can retell it later – and maybe change the ending!
Books about rockets and space:
Goodnight Spaceman by Michelle Robinson
A,B,Cs of Space by Chris Ferrie
Sun Up, Sun Down by Gail Gibbons
Roaring Rockets by Tony Mitton
On the Launch Pad (A Counting Book About Rockets) by Michael Dahl