Virtual STEAM Ahead

Rockets!

Today's project is all about rockets.

We typically think of rockets as inventions that came into being in the 1960's, during the height of the United States' space race with the Soviet Union (now known as Russia).  But the first rocket was actually launched in 1926!  Robert Hutchings Goddard (1882 - 1945) was an American engineer and physicist who is credited with inventing the world's first rocket.  The science behind rockets is called aerodynamics.  Aerodynamics is the study of the movement of air and the force of objects (such as rockets and airplanes) through that air.  Thrust is the aerodynamic force that pushes or pulls an aircraft through the air.  Conversely, drag is the aerodynamic force that opposes the aircraft's motion.  These factors and many more go into the science of building a rocket that works!  To read about rockets, go to Hoopla, enter "rocket" in the search box and select "Children's Titles Only."

How cool do rockets look?  Let's create our own version of one!   

Supplies Needed:

• Colored card stock or Construction Paper
• Paper towel roll
• Washable paint
• Scissors
• Paintbrush
• School Glue or Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Directions
1. To start, cut paper towel roll into two pieces. One piece should be
slightly longer than the other.

2. Paint each piece of the paper towel roll. Any color paint will do. Let
paint dry completely.

3. Trace the lid of a mason jar, or cup twice onto a colored piece of paper.
You will be making one cone-shaped top for each rocket. Use scissors
to cut out each circle.

4. Next, cut one slit to the center on each circle. Form each circle into a
cone by pulling the two ends together. Use glue to seal each cone
closed.

5. Now cut out eight triangles about three to four inches wide from colored
paper. You’ll use four of these on each rocket. Working from the top of
each triangle cut a slit from the point down, stopping just before the
bottom of each triangle.

6. Carefully cut four slits into the bottom of each painted tube. Make sure
that each cut is directly across from the cut on the opposite side.
7. Now slide one triangle up through the bottom of each slit. The triangle
will form an X at the bottom of the rocket.

8. Lastly, cut six quarter sized circles from your colored paper/ Glue three
circles on each rocket.

Blast Off!

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