Curated OER
Balloon Rockets
Young scholars, after reviewing and analyzing Newton's third law of motion, make balloon rockets and experiment with a variety of models. After the experiment, they chart the results and form conclusions. In addition, they...
Curated OER
Rocket Transportation
Students use problem solving skills to lift a load using a balloon rocket. They construct a rocket out of a balloon and use it to carry a paper clip payload.
Curated OER
Action-Reaction! Rocket
Students construct a rocket from a balloon propelled along a guide string. They use this model to learn about Newton's three laws of motion, examining the effect of different forces on the motion of the rocket. They measure the distance...
Teach Engineering
The Great Gravity Escape
Groups simulate an orbit using a piece of string and a water balloon. Individuals spin in a circular path and calculate the balloon's velocity when the clothes pin can no longer hold onto the balloon.
NASA
Rocket Races
And they are off! Using Styrofoam meat trays and balloons, individuals build racers that demonstrate Newton's Third Law of Motion. Pupils run their racers three times and make improvements between each trial. To conclude the activity,...
Curated OER
Balloon Rocket
Students observe a balloon rocket and how it relates to Newton's Third Law of Motion. In this balloon rocket lesson plan, students make a balloon rocket out of balloons, clothespins, straw, fishing line, and duct tape.
Curated OER
Balloon Staging
Students explore rocketry using balloon rockets. They demonstrate how rockets can achieve greater altitudes by using the technology of staging. By using two inflated balloons that slide along a fishing line, they simulate a multistage...
NASA
Launch It
Launching a rocket with a balloon—that sounds crazy! The class brainstorms design characteristics of a rocket. Individuals build a balloon launcher and a rocket straw. Using the air stored in a balloon, the individuals launch their...
DiscoverE
Rocket-Powered Ski Lift
If a ski lift had rockets, imagine how fast it would be! Scholars let their imaginations take flight as they build models for such a ski lift. Rather than using a rocket, though, they'll use a much safer balloon as the power source.
NASA
Heavy Lifting
Accept NASA's challenge to design heavy lifting vehicles. Groups of three design balloon-powered rockets to carry as much payload to the ceiling as possible. The teams are encouraged to launch several times while making improvements to...
Curated OER
Physics Lab Rockets
Students construct and test balloon rockets and a model rocket. In this rocket science lesson, students use an inquiry-based method to master balloon rockets and have a shoot-off with the goal of attaining the highest altitude. Next,...
Curated OER
Balloon Rockets
Students build pinwheel airplanes and balloon rockets to determine which ones fly faster and which fly farther.
Curated OER
Balloon Rocket
In this friction investigation instructional activity, students follow the directions to construct a balloon rocket. Students use a string lubricated with soap and a drinking straw with a balloon. This is a page from the UK.
Curated OER
Bottle Rocket Launcher
Learners construct a bottle rocket launcher for use with the Bottle Rocket and Project X-35 activities. They construct a bottle launcher from "off-the-shelf" hardware and wood using simple tools.
Curated OER
Rocket Car
Students construct a balloon-powered rocket car from a Styrofoam tray, pins, tape, and a flexible straw, and test it along a measured track on the floor. They experiment with ways of increasing the distance the rocket car travels.
Curated OER
More Rocket Science
Students observe two rocket science experiments, and create a graph to demonstrate the results. They draw a picture and write an explanation of the results of the experiments.
Curated OER
Simple Rocket Science
Students demonstrate Newton's Third Law of Motion. They discuss the history of rockets, observe how a rocket works, and draw a picture and write an explanation of the balloon experiment.
Curated OER
Hot air Balloons
Young scholars study how hot air balloons were created and the different types there are. In this density and lift lesson students build their own hot air balloon.
Curated OER
Rocket Science 101
Learners explore the aspects of Newton's First and Third Laws of Motion as they conduct controlled rocketry experiments and analyze the Mars Mission in terms of the principles of rocketry.
Curated OER
Rocket to Success
Students investigate action and reaction. In this energy instructional activity, students use a balloon and string to create a simple rocket. The will collect quantitative data record their observations, and relate their observations to...
Curated OER
Balloon Staging
Students discover how rockets can reach a higher altitude by using staging. They use balloons to demonstrate this concept and then practice with rockets. They discuss the results to end the lesson.
Curated OER
Rocket Science
Students conduct an experiment. In this physical science lesson, students learn about Isaac Newton's theory that for every action there is an equal but opposite reaction. Students show this theory by looking at how a rocket is propelled...
Curated OER
Aircraft vs. Spacecraft
Students investigate differences between aircraft and spacecraft, and the differences in propulsion systems. They build pinwheel airplanes and balloon rockets. An interactive activity quizzes students on thrust.
Curated OER
Science: Motion Commotion
Students examine Newton's three laws of motion to discover what causes it and how it changes. They conduct motion experiments by building catapults and constructing balloon rockets. Finally, they conduct peer studies correlating...