Monday, March 19, 2012

// // 19 comments

Rockets for Preschoolers!

These rockets for preschoolers are fun, easy, and perfect for space and solar system themes...they're also loads of fun to use as "fireworks" during the New Year and the 4th of July! It's also loads of fun for a summer camp or "boredom buster"! And if you have older kids, building the launcher is a wonderful STEM challenge or STEM activity!




Okay, I'll confess:  it isn't just for preschoolers...I've made these stomp rockets with kids from 1-17 years old, and they all love them!  You learn about different things with each age group, but every child I've known loves to shoot them into "space!"  Preschoolers especially love watching their little stomp send their rocket flying higher than a 2-story home!  The set-up takes a little time, but the excitement is so worth it!  When you're done, you can store the launcher in your garage and pull it out any time!

First, let's make the launcher.  


Supplies for your Stomp Rocket Launcher:


  • 1/2-inch PVC Pipe.  You need six pieces.  The measurements aren't critical, but I had 5 pieces about 2 feet long and 1 piece about 5 feet long.  My hardware store cut them for me when I bought them.
  • 1/2-inch PVC Pipe Joiners.  You need the following 4 pieces:  
  •     * 4-way joiner
  •     * (2) 45 degree elbows
  •     * 90 degree elbow
  • duct tape
  • 2-liter bottle (empty)

How to Make a Stomp Rocket Launcher:


This is simple...I promise!

Here's the completed launcher with parts labeled, for any of you visual people.  After the picture are instructions.


The launcher is made in two parts:  1-the actual launcher and 2-the supports.

1-To first make the launcher, twist the 2-liter bottle onto the 5-foot long PVC pipe.  Duct tape it on to make sure no air can escape this joint.



2- Twist the 90 degree elbow onto the other end of the 5-foot long PVC pipe.

3- Twist one of the 2-foot long pieces into the 90 degree elbow.  Duct tape this joint to make sure no air can escape.  Your launcher is done!  Yay!  But it tips over.  So, let's make the supports:




 4- To make the supports, drop the 4-way joiner onto the launcher.  You now have 2 openings on the 4-way joiner exposed.  Twist 2-foot long PVC pieces into those openings.  Duct tape them on so they don't fall off, but do not duct tape the 4-way joiner onto the actual launcher.  You want this removable so it stores easily.

5- Twist a 45 degree elbow onto the ends of the 2-foot long pieces.

6- Twist the last 2-foot long pieces into the 45 degree elbow.

Ta da!!  All done!

Now you can invite the kids to join you in making rockets!



Supplies for Rockets:

  • computer paper
  • masking tape
  • crayons or other decorative supplies

DIY Rockets:


1. Decorate a paper!

2. Wrapt the paper around the PVC pipe and tape it closed. Be careful to make it tight enough that it will catch the air, but loose enough that it will move on and off the pipe.



3. Tape the rocket closed. Tape over one end of the rocket several times so no air escapes the top.



To Launch a Rocket:

1. Place the rocket on the top of the launcher.

2. Stomp down on the 2-liter bottle, right on top of the duct tape!

3. Watch your rocket soar!!

4. If the bottle doesn't re-inflate by itself, you can blow up the bottle again by blowing through the top of the launcher. You can also easily clean this off with baby wipes.  ;)



Note:  If you want a launcher that doesn't need blowing up, you can attach a bicycle pump, air storage tube, and a valve instead of the 2-liter bottle.  But I think that's unnecessary. 

Here's a video of the launching happening:




Happy Educating, Carla









I may share at any of these parties!



19 comments:

Unknown said...

Ok, so this is super cool! I plan on making the husband read it, build it, and then let me have some fun with it with the kiddos ;) Thanks!

Carla at Preschool Powol Packets said...

lol, Liz! It's much easier than it looks! I'm SO excited that you can use it--your class would have a blast! When I've done it with large groups, I often bring a few spare pieces of PVC so several kids can wrap their rockets at the same time. Have fun!! Also, depending on the size of your class, you may want to have an extra bottle on hand to swap out if the first one cracks. So far, I haven't had one crack until it's been stomped on over 150 times. ;)

Carolyn @ Mama's Little Muse said...

WOW! That is one serious rocket! My son would love this! We bought a Stomp it Rocket a few years ago, and slowly all the parts have disappeared. This will be a great replacement and probably a lot more durable!

Carolyn @ Mama's Little Muse said...

WOW! That is one serious rocket! My son would love this! We bought a Stomp it Rocket a few years ago, and slowly all the parts have disappeared. This will be a great replacement and probably a lot more durable!

Anonymous said...

This is so cool! I have pinned this onto my Pinterest Board and printed it out as well. This will be perfect for the hands on science classes that my husbands teaches (the kids will LOVE this!). Thank you for linking up this week to my Enchanted Thursdays Blog Hop!

Carla at Preschool Powol Packets said...

Carolyn, I didn't even know you could buy pre-made stomp launchers! It's a great idea--I bet someone's making a fortune! These bottles are very durable--like I told Liz, I've seen them stomped on many, many times before they crack!

I love the Enchanted Thursday Hop! and I bet your husband's class will love the rockets too! I hope you get to join in the fun too! ;)

Alison @ Oopsey Daisy said...

Wow! I bet the kids loved this!! Thanks for sharing at oopsey daisy!

Andrea @ No Doubt Learning said...

I love that it takes a stomp to launch! We did paper airplanes (with a twist) this week...on a much smaller scale that you. But, we loved launching them as well!
~Andrea
http://www.nodoubtlearning.blogspot.com/2012/03/paper-airplanes-with-twist.html

PlainVanillaMom said...

So cool! Our big kids would love this activity! Thanks for sharing.

Lindsi B said...

Ohmigosh!!! What a FUN idea! My son would love this! I'd like to invite you to share this with our readers for Fun Stuff Friday @Toys In The Dryer http://www.toysinthedryer.com/2012/03/fun-stuff-fridays-16.html.

Shiloh said...

Oh yay! This looks like so much fun! I think we have some pipe lying around the house. I hope it's enough for hubby to make this for us.:)

Cacheymama said...

Wow, this is so neat. My one year old loves watching daddy fly his RC helicopter around in the front yard. I am going to e-mail this to daddy and I know he will def want to try it! Thanks for linking up to Thinky Linky Thursday!
Lori @ Cachey Mama’s Classroom

Carla at Preschool Powol Packets said...

Yeah, Alison, my kids have insisted that we do it more than once! Of course, after I made the launcher I thought that we should shoot them at least twice a week, lol!

Andrea, I love the stomp too! Anything that brings a physical element to an activity gets a thumbs up in my book!

Lindsi, I hope you guys have time to try it! and I did link up at Toys in the Dryer! Thanks for the invite!



PlainVanillaMom, I have done this with teenagers who LOVE it! The cool thing about teenagers is that they can make the launcher, too. ;)

Shiloh, That's pretty cool that you have PVC at your house already! You can make it with less than I did--you just need to have a launcher and a support, but you can design the supports in many ways. This is just simplest for me. ;)

Thanks, Lori! My 1-year old stomps his rocket about 7-8 feet high! Though, he does have a pretty intense stomp! ;) I bet your little guy would love it...and if not, I'm sure your preschoolers would!

Crystal Underwood said...

How FUN! Thanks for sharing with The Kids Co- Op!

Keitha said...

So cool! I have pinned your rocket tutorial. I am going to save it for one of those "I'm bored" days of summer.

Unknown said...

This is so AWESOME!

Unknown said...

Ok, you know I had to pin this right? Rock on!

Lauren said...

FUN! Love this!

Thank you for linking up to A Pinteresting Party! :) Hope to see you again!

DSLA said...

I really need to try this some time! Thanks for linking up with BTT!