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Build an Apollo lunar lander

Learn about Moon landings and build your own Apollo Lunar Lander

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You’ll need

  • 2 small paper cups each
  • 2 blue/grey/white pipe cleaners each
  • 4 small drinks bottle caps
  • 1 tea light candle holder each 
  • Craft glue
  • Sticky tape
  • Sticky tac
  • Blue and grey coloured paper
  • Scissors
  • Felt tip/colouring pens
  • Small screw driver or awl (leader use only)

Before you begin

  • Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Take a look at our guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.  
  • Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
  • Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help. 

Planning and setting up this activity 

  • Have laptop or tablet with internet access to show video clips of the Apollo missions. 

Running this activity

  1. Gather everyone around and tell them that today they will be learning about the Apollo moon landings and then make our own Apollo moon lander. Show them short video clips of the Apollo moon landings.
  2. Give each person 2 small paper cups and ask them stick the open ends together, using sticky tape
  3. Once they have stuck the cups together, get everyone to decorate their cups like the actual Apollo lunar lander using coloured paper or felt tip pens.
  4. On the bottom cup, poke 4 holes on the sides equally spaced apart (this should be done by a leader).
  5. Thread 2 pieces of blue, grey or white pipe cleaner through the holes so it comes out the opposite hole. These are the landing gear or legs. You will have 4 legs coming out of the holes at the bottom.
  6. Glue the bottom of the pipe cleaners( legs) onto 4 small bottle caps.
  7. Give each person one small tealight candle holder. They need to cover this up completely using a small piece of aluminium foil. This is the satellite/radar dish. 
  8. Once they have covered it up, the satellite dish needs to be stuck on to the top half of the lunar lander using sticky tape or  sticky tac.
  9. Your Apollo lunar lander is now complete.  

Reflection

This activity was all about how the real Apollo Lunar Module helped astronauts land safely on the Moon. Just like engineers at NASA, you used your creativity and problem-solving skills to build something amazing. What was your favourite part of building your lunar module? If you could fly your lunar module to the Moon, what would you explore there? 

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.

Glue and solvents

Always supervise young people appropriately when they’re using glue and solvent products. Make sure there’s plenty of ventilation. Be aware of any medical conditions that could be affected by glue or solvent use and make adjustments as needed.

Sharp objects

Teach young people how to use sharp objects safely. Supervise them appropriately throughout. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.

Make it accessible

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

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