Rocket Science

As an after school program, I, along with another Co-Teacher, planned and led a rocket themed "Afters". Each week the children built and launched a different type of rocket. See below for some of the rockets we learned about and built during our session

Baby Bertha Model Rocket

As a final project for our "Afters" session, we spent 3 weeks building a "Baby Bertha Model Rocket" and launched them outside for all to see.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Rocket

Materials:

Empty a Spring Water bottle
Vinegar
Baking Soda
3 Pencils
Duck tape
Wine cork
Paper Towels

How to:

1) Tape three pencils evenly spaced around the sides of a water bottle os that it will stand upside down. (Take the pencils so that they hang off the end at least two inches)

2) Fill the bottle 1/4 of the way with vinegar

3) Pour some baking soda into a small napkin and roll it up into a long capsule

4) Before inserting the baking soda capsule, find a cork that fits snug into the top of the bottle. If it is easy to slip in and out, take a small piece of wet paper towel (about the size of the cork) and wrap it around the cork until you get a snug fit

5) When ready, drop the baking soda capsule in and cork the bottle. Give it a little shake and set it upside down on pencil ends.

6) Watch as your rocket takes flight! (Be sure to do this one outside as things can get messy!)

Note:

Feel free to experiment with different amounts of baking soda, vinegar and cork sizes to see how high you can get your rocket to go!

Tea Bag Rocket

Materials:

Tea Bag
Scissors
Plate
Match or lighter

How to:

1) First cut the top of the tea bag off

2) Open up the tea bag and empty the tea leaves into the trashcan

3) Once the tea bag is a clean cylinder, stand it up on the plate. (Note: The experiment is better done inside because the slightest breeze will blow the cylinder on it's side)

4) With adult supervision, light the top of the tea bag on fire. It will burn rather quickly in a controlled manner

Note:

As the fire consumes the tea bag, it will gently rise up into the air and then simply extinguish itself. How does it work? The fire creates hot air within the tea bag cylinder. Hot air rises and thrusts the bag into the air.

Soda Straw Rocket

Materials:

Plastic Drinking Straw
Scissors
Pencil
Scotch Tape
Ruler

How to:

1) Cut one big rectangle, otherwise known as your "rocket body". Curl the rectangle lengthwise around a pencil and tape it into a tube.

2) Cut out two rocket fin units. Line up the rectangle on one unit with the bottom of the rocket body. Tape it on. Line up the second fin unit and tape it to the oppoiste side of the tube.

3) On one fin unit, bend the fin on the right side toward you, so it forms a right angle with the fin on the left. Do the same to the right-hand fin on the other fin unit.

4) Pu the straw inside the rocket and line up the front of the rocket with the end of the straw. Then, tape the end of your rocket closed.

5) Let it fly! Blow intot he straw to launch your rocket.

Try launching your rocket at different angles and see what happens!

Film Canister Rocket

Materials:

One empty 35mm plastic film canister (must have an internal-sealing lid)
One antacid tablet (such as Alka-Seltzer
Water
Safety goggles
8.5 x 11 paper
Scissors
Tape

How to:

1) Cut 8.5 x 11” Paper in half horizontally

2) Wrap and tape ½ of the paper around the film canister. The lid end of the canister goes down

3) Cut and tape fins to your rocket

4) Cut cone pattern. Roll the cone and tape it to the rocket’s upper end.

5) Put on those safety goggles and head outside

6) Break the antacid tablet in half

7) Remove the lid from the film canister and fill it halfway with water

8) Drop the tablet half into the canister and snap the cap onto the canister (make sure that it snaps on tightly)

9) Quickly put the canister on the ground cap side down and step back

10) About 10 seconds later, you will hear a POP and the film canister will launch into the air!