DIY Stomp Rocket : Backyard Science for Kids
Inside: Learn how to make your very own DIY stomp rocket!
Making abstract concepts easy for children to understand can be difficult, especially when learning about things that are difficult to see or touch, such as science concepts related to things like gases or plant osmosis or how energy is made. To help children understand these types of abstract concepts it is important to look for ways of engaging them actively with the subject – by making the learning hands-on and by engaging the body and the mind through actual, physical application. Opportunities for creative expression, excursions or field trips, cooking and fun science experiments are just four great ways to achieve this goal.
RELATED: Check out our entire collection of backyard science experiments for kids.
Making a stomp or air rocket is certainly one way of making science learning engaging and physical! The whole family had so much fun with this activity and it was a great way to introduce Immy to the concepts of transferring energy and the power of air pressure!
How to Make a Stomp Rocket
You will need:
For the Rocket Launcher
- Approximately 2.5m of PVC pipe. The diameter of your pipe must be large enough to fit over the end of a 2L plastic soft drink bottle.
- One 2L plastic soft drink bottle (though it might be handy to have another couple in reserve to refit your launcher as the bottles do wear out from all of the stomping!)
- One 90 degree PVC elbow piece
- Roll of heavy duty electrical tape
- Rubber bands
- Handsaw
For the Rocket
- 1 centre page spread from a magazine for the rocket’s body, staples removed
- 1 magazine page for the rocket’s nose cone
- Sticky tape
- Milk carton (or cereal box cardboard) to form the rocket’s fins
To make the Rocket Launcher:
1. Cut the PVC pipe into the following pieces:
- 1 x 1m
- 2 x 35cm
- 2 x 60cm
2. Make two rubber band ropes, each approximately 1m long, by interlocking rubber bands into a chain.
3. Form a cross from the 1m length of PVC pipe and one of the 35cm PVC pipe pieces, about 20cms from the end of the long pipe. Secure with one of the rubber band ropes. Repeat at the other end with the second 35cm piece.
3. Connect the 90 degree elbow to one end of the long PVC pipe and place one of the 60cm pieces of PVC pipe into the elbow.
4. At the other end of the long PVC pipe insert the mouth of the soft drink bottle into the pipe.
5. Cover all connections with electrical tape to secure.
To make the Rocket:
1. Wrap lengths of electrical tape smoothly around the second piece of 60cm piece of PVC. You want to make the pipe slightly wider so that your rocket will fit easily (but snuggly) over the end of the launcher
2. Take the centre page of the magazine and wrap it around the pipe to make the body of the rocket. The sheet should be wrapped tightly. Tape together with sticky tape along the length of the seam.
3. Make a cone from the additional magazine page to for the nose of the rocket. Secure to the body of the rocket with sticky tape. You want to make sure that the nose cone is secure and that no air can escape from the top of the rocket.
4. Cut out three triangular fins from the milk carton or cereal box cardboard. Tape fins to the rocket with electrical tape.
Prepare to Launch!
Take your rocket launcher outdoors. You will want a large, open area as your rocket is going to get some height!
To launch, place the rocket onto the open end of the launcher and stomp (as hard as you can) on the centre of the soft drink bottle.
To reset, blow on the launcher end of the pipe to re-inflate bottle. Then you are ready to go again!
Be sure to ask your child what they think makes the rocket lift off (air pressure).
I wish I had more time and energy for play, play, play! You can never play too much with your kids and playing keeps us grown ups young and fun.
Fab timing, Christie, my son made one of these at kindy and I promised him we’d replicate the experiment at home during the holidays. We have all the bits lying around to make it as I never thrown anything away, lol.
I wish I had more time and energy to complete the projects that are close to my heart without it cutting into family time or making me cranky from lack of sleep.
I wish I had more time and energy to do nothing… to just hang out with my family and dream!
I wish I had more time and energy for cooking!
I wish I had more time and energy to be me. Not Mum, or cleaner, or cook, or troubleshooter…..
The new website sounds fantastic. I’m going to tell my son’s school about it. I wish I had more time and energy for reading. It always gets pushed down the priority list, and I adore reading.
I wish I had more time and energy to learn about photography! I adore beautiful pictures but need to practice the art.
I wish I had more time and energy to understand and creatively explain how energy works to the kids in my home education group.
I wish I had more time and energy to have a leisurely shop without having to run around the streets doing chores.
I wish I had more time and energy to be a good wife. I spend all of my time devoted to my children that My hubby misses out!
To get fit enough to run a marathon for charity and then run all the way to the organisation and make the donation in person!
I wish I had more time and energy to be better organised. I feel like I just chase my tail at the moment getting things done at the last minute instead of being prepared in advance
I would love to play with the kids longer and be more organised instead of running around at the last minute.
more energy to help cope emotionally with the ‘normal’ childhood behaviors that drive me up the wall
I wish l had more time & energy to spend with the family enjoying life. Work & other commitments prevent it. Thanks Origin Energy
I wish I had more time and energy to exercise. Life with a preschooler and a toddler leave me feeling bedraggled most of the time. I miss that pumped up feeling when you’re playing (and possibly even winning) with your team. My kids are ‘almost’ at the age where I can start this up again, I’m really looking forward to it, and I think it will be great for them to see me having fun exercising too.
I wish I had more time to play with the kids, cook food from scratch and exercise more. Health issues and working full time with two kids has taken its toll. But now the sun is up I am working on getting my energy back!
I wish i had more time to sleep, 4 hours a night doesn’t really cut it for me 🙂
ME!
me
I wish I had more time and energy to spend with friends and family. With such a busy schedule it’s hard to find the time. Life’s short so make time and energy to life every day to the fullest!
I wish I had more time to play the violin so my children could discover playing music without electricity is not a mortal sin!
Housework. I love writing and computer games and being with my family and friends, young and old. The house is a mess.
LIFE!
On how I look like straightening my hair, doing make up, painting nails etc but there’s always more important things to do.
Grandma energy! My new grandson prompts me to re-visit the energy spent on raising my little ones. I long for time to try the fabulous ideas on childhood 101!
Puzzle making, Cupcake baking,
DigiBird tweeting, Pokemon defeating,
Goal shooting, Cycling, Scooting,
Trampolining….. not constant cleaning!
My children’s energy needed everyday,
Guarantees Mummy can PLAY!!
I wish I had more time and energy to appreciate simple things around us: birds watching, flying a kite, picking up flowers, admiring nature wonders and sharing the joy of the world with my kids!
I just showed this to Pop and he commented “Very good” so approval from the older generation as well. I too thought a fantastic idea, xx