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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.
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!)
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 weekly 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!
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.
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.
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!
Want more rockets? Check out some of these:
STEM Project: Cardboard Tube Rocket Blaster
Quick Bottle Rockets With Baking Soda & Vinegar
Need creative teaching ideas?
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Deceptively Educational says
Oh, Karyn. My son and I are SO totally doing this!! Thank you for sharing. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this idea!
Kristina says
I can’t get the link for the template to work. 🙁
Molly says
Great idea! Unfortunately, everytime I try to click on the template it says page not found.
Karyn Tripp says
Sorry about that- I had it set to private. Is it working now?
Molly says
The link works now. Can’t wait to use it tomorrow! Thanks!!
Don says
This is awesome! I think my son will love this!
Charlene says
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 🙂
Carolyn Wilhelm says
Nice post with educational active learning, the best! Foss Science kits has something similar, so you are a great thinker, Karyn! Carolyn
Allison says
These are awesome Karen! I saw them featured on Hey Mom, Look What I Did, and I’m printing the template right now. Thanks!
Jennifer Weir says
This was a winner! We made two and had competitions to see whose rocket flew the furthest!
paul duragrin seuwa says
they are a nice planes with a paper make by children i love it
Helen Randle says
Can’t download the template.