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craft Hands-On Learning Printable Science Sensory Summer Toys

Straw Rocket with Printable Template

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This post may contain affiliate links.

Want to make a very easy, but fun little toy for your kids to play with?  These Straw Rockets (with a printable template) are a blast! My kids have been having SO much fun with this at our house.  It has hung around for a while- and today they are making new ones to replace the tattered ones they have been playing with all week long.
straw rocket STEM toy for kids
We made these originally at our local library story time in the Summer about 8 years ago.  The kids loved it so much that day they came home and wanted to make more!
Now, I am doing the project again with my younger kids (and with my improved photography skills!)
straw rockets
This simple little Straw Rocket is propelled by blowing through a straw that shoots it up across the room.
Watch this quick video to see them in action:

How to Make the Straw Rocket:

 

Start by printing the Straw Rocket template~ it’s in my subscriber library.

Not yet a subscriber?  Sign up here and it will be emailed right to you!  Already a subscriber?  Get the link and password to the subscriber library in each of my emails.

 

 

The template has 6 rocket styles and all six are included in both color and black and white for coloring in. If you print out the black and white one, let kids color and decorate as desired!
coloring rockets
Cut out the template. There are just two pieces to the rocket- the rocket and the rectangle that you roll to put the straw in.
Roll the rectangle the long way with the fold line on the top. You can roll it around a pencil to get it tight.  Tape it along the sides to secure it.
Fold it over at the top on the part that says fold.  Secure the fold with tape to keep it down.
Tape the rolled piece to the back of the rocket.
printable straw rockets for kids
Insert a straw and blow the rocket up into the air~ again and again and again!
There is a little trick to getting it go high. Do not push the straw very hard into the rocket. You want it to be loosely placed on top.  Then when you blow, give it one fast and hard blow to make it fly sky high!
We took it outside because it kept hitting the ceiling. This way we could see how high it would really go!
This is a fun and simple activity to make with kids to keep them entertained.
Printable Straw Rocket for Kids

The Science Behind It:

Add a learning component to it, too! Talk about the force of  air. When you blow into the straw, the big puff of air gets stopped at the top and pushes back down. The force pushing it back down causes the rocket to fly! This is Newton’s third law of motion- action and reaction!
Now, just for posterity’s sake, here is my daughter the first time we made these (in 2012!) Back then, we drew our own rockets.   Now my youngest daughter looks nearly the same! When I update my posts, I love seeing my big kids so young loving the activities the first time we did them.
Check out my latest Science Art book!

Try Some More Homemade STEM Toys!

Rubber Band Paddle Boat
Flexible Straw Shapes
Twirligig~ Rainbow Paper Spinner Toy
Spool Racers: Homemade Wind-Up Toy

Want more rockets?  Check out some of these:

STEM Project: Cardboard Tube Rocket Blaster

Quick Bottle Rockets With Baking Soda & Vinegar

Ribbon Rocket

Film Canister Rockets

Printable Preschool Animal Activity Pack
Fairy Tale Puppet Show Theater


13 Comments

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Comments

  1. Deceptively Educational says

    June 24, 2012 at 3:01 am

    Oh, Karyn. My son and I are SO totally doing this!! Thank you for sharing. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this idea!

    Reply
  2. Kristina says

    June 24, 2012 at 1:38 pm

    I can’t get the link for the template to work. 🙁

    Reply
  3. Molly says

    June 24, 2012 at 7:31 pm

    Great idea! Unfortunately, everytime I try to click on the template it says page not found.

    Reply
  4. Karyn Tripp says

    June 24, 2012 at 8:22 pm

    Sorry about that- I had it set to private. Is it working now?

    Reply
  5. Molly says

    June 25, 2012 at 3:33 am

    The link works now. Can’t wait to use it tomorrow! Thanks!!

    Reply
  6. Don says

    June 25, 2012 at 1:46 pm

    This is awesome! I think my son will love this!

    Reply
  7. Charlene says

    June 26, 2012 at 1:46 am

    What a fun idea!! Thanks for sharing this on Hey Mom, Look What I Did at Adventures In Mommy Land..hope to see you again soon 🙂

    Reply
  8. Carolyn Wilhelm says

    June 26, 2012 at 11:37 pm

    Nice post with educational active learning, the best! Foss Science kits has something similar, so you are a great thinker, Karyn! Carolyn

    Reply
  9. Allison says

    July 2, 2012 at 3:18 pm

    These are awesome Karen! I saw them featured on Hey Mom, Look What I Did, and I’m printing the template right now. Thanks!

    Reply
  10. Jennifer Weir says

    April 21, 2020 at 5:33 am

    This was a winner! We made two and had competitions to see whose rocket flew the furthest!

    Reply
  11. paul duragrin seuwa says

    May 8, 2020 at 7:06 pm

    they are a nice planes with a paper make by children i love it

    Reply
  12. Helen Randle says

    May 14, 2020 at 6:41 am

    Can’t download the template.

    Reply

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  1. 60 Rainy Summer Day Activities! & Share It Saturday - Teach Beside Me says:
    October 18, 2013 at 11:15 am

    […] Powol Packets: Make a popsicle stick airplane B-Inspired Mama: Play cleaning games with the kids Teach Beside Me: Make a straw rocket Weekly Kids Co-Op: Make toys Gift of Curiosity: Learn about insect anatomy […]

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Hi! I'm Karyn.
I am a former teacher turned homeschool mom of four kids. I LOVE teaching! I believe learning should be enjoyable and engaging. My goal is to ease the burdens of educators by offering memorable learning activities.
Questions? Contact me here: karyn@teachbesideme.com
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