Kids Activities

Hey Kids,

Have fun at home building a rocket!

Film Canister Rocket

There's never a better time to experiment than the present. This activity can be messy, so plan to do it outside or ask an adult for a good place. Be sure to get permission before trying this activity, or better yet, ask them to help make the rocket too.

Materials:

1. Construction paper,
2. Empty film canister,
3. Tape,
4. Scissors,
5. Baking soda,
6. Afew squares of toilet paper, and
7. Vinegar.

What to do:

1. Make a rocket body by rolling a piece of construction paper once around the film canister to form a tube.

2. Tape the paper to the canister. The rim of the open end of the film canister should not be covered with paper.
3. Make a nose cone by cutting a circle out of paper. It should be bigger than the opening of the tube.

4. Cut a straight line from the edge of the circle to the center point.

5. Slide the cut edges past each other to form a cone.
6. Tape it together.
7. Attach the cone to the top of the rocket body with tape.
8. Fuel the rocket by putting baking soda onto two sheets of toilet paper.

9. Fold the toilet paper around the baking soda into the film canister and put the lid on quickly.
10. Set the rocket down on a flat surface with the nose cone pointing up.

11. Quickly move away from the launch site.

Questions:

Can you change something about your rocket to make it go even higher? Does the amount of baking soda and vinegar matter? What about the weight of the canister? Test it.

For more information, contact KLRU's Educational Services Department at e-mail: lschmid@klru.org or (512) 471-4811.