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Rocket racers

Ready, set, blast off! Create and launch rockets while learning about space.

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You’ll need

  • Rocket template (one per person)
  • Two paper cups (per person)
  • Two elastic bands around 10cm in length (depending on the size of the paper cup)
  • Sharp tool to make a small hole
  • Scissors
  • Sticky tape
  • Craft glue
  • Glue spreader
  • Coloured pens or pencils
  • Device with internet access (optional)
Rocket Racers Template
PDF – 122.9KB
Download Rocket Racers Template

Before you begin 

  • Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. There's also more guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.
  • Don’t forget to 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 

  • Before the session, make four holes of equal distance apart on the top of all the paper cups (open part). Cut an elastic band into two pieces so that both pieces are around 10cm in length. Thread both pieces of the elastic to the holes on the cup so they over lap and tie them securely.  

Making your mini rockets

  1. Gather everyone around and tell them that they'll be making mini rockets and then flying them to see how far they travel.
  2. Ask if anyone knows what a rocket is.  
  3. Explain that rockets are machines that help power people and things into space. They’re any spacecraft or aircraft that’s powered by a rocket engine. 
  • A rocket engine works like an engine in a car - burning fuel to make something move. 
  • In a rocket engine, the fuel is set on fire and this produces hot gas.
  • The hot gas comes out of the bottom of the rocket, pushing it upwards.
  • A way to demonstrate this is by letting the air out of an inflated balloon.
  • As the air is pushed out of the balloon, the balloon moves in the opposite direction.
  • Spaceships or spacecraft are slightly different.
  • These are where we store the things we want to get to space. It's sat right at the very top of the rocket.
  • We often think of this being where people sit when travelling into space, but we don't always send people, sometimes we only send equipment or robots.
  • The spacecraft controls its own flight once it has reached space.
  • Once the spacecraft is in space, it’s free from gravity and everything floats around. (Source: The Schools’ Observatory, Liverpool John Moore University)  
  1. Ask if anyone can remember what a rocket looks like or if they can name any parts of a rocket. You may want to share a picture or ask people to draw it.
  2.  Explain that rockets are split up into several parts.
  3. There are four main parts of a rocket. Firstly, the main body of the rocket, which is a long cylinder with a pointy top and fins on the bottom. The bottom part of the rocket is the rocket engine. The last part of a rocket, the pointy bit, usually called the nose cone. It has inside it everything important which you want to make it to space, and usually back to the Earth.
  4. Give everyone a paper cup with the elastic band attached on the inside, and a rocket template. Tell them that these cups are the body of the rocket and that there are elastic bands attached to the inside of the rocket and they should leave them there. The open part of the cup will be the bottom of the rocket and the closed part of the cup will be the nose of the rocket.
  5. Everyone can decorate their cup using colouring pens.
  6. Once they have finished decorating, they need to cut out the cone and fin from the template. An adult may need to help with cutting.
  7. Tape the fins to the bottom part of the body of the rocket.
  8. Make the cone and stick it to the closed part of the cup. A leader may need to help make the cone and attach to the cup.
  9. The rockets are now done and you can try them out.
  10. Give everyone a second cup. Place the cup upside down and put the rocket you have made on top of it. Gently push it down and let go. The elastic band will cause the rocket to fly up. Make sure to fly your rockets in a clear space away from people.  

Reflection

Today we learnt about rockets and how they take people and equipment to space. What was the best part about making and flying your rocket? 

If you could make another rocket, what would you do differently? 

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.

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.

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.

Online safety

Supervise young people when they’re online and give them advice about staying safe. Take a look at our online safety or bullying guidance. The NSPCC offers more advice and guidance, too. If you want to know more about specific social networks and games, Childnet has information and safety tips for apps. You can also report anything that’s worried you online to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command. As always, if you’ve got concerns about a young person’s welfare, including their online experiences, follow the Yellow Card to make a report.

Make it accessible

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

Squirrels Space Explorer Activity Badge
Beavers Space Activity Badge