Curated OER
Rocketry
Middle schoolers design and construct a paper rocket that can be launched with a drinking straw. They participate in a lecture and read an article about rocketry and how Newton's Third Law applies to rocket launches. Each student...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Blast Off!
With the use of a model rocket kit, aspiring aerospace engineers work cooperatively to construct and launch a rocket. A preparatory reading assignment is included, covering Newton's laws of motion and information about the first...
NASA
A Pictorial History of Rockets
3, 2, 1: Blast off! Take a look at the history of rockets through a camera lens. A set of 41 cards displays more than 2,000 years of rockets, from their use as toys to space flight.
Curated OER
Rocketry in Motion
Pupils investigate why a balloon flies in one direction as air escapes in the opposite direction, which helps them understand the nature of rockets and fireworks. Individually and in teams, students conduct research to create a timeline...
Curated OER
Altitude Tracking
Students construct simple altitude tracking devices for determining the altitude a rocket reaches in its flight. They estimate the altitude a rocket achieves during flight.
Curated OER
Paper Rockets
Students design, construct, and fly paper rockets that travel the greatest distance possible across a floor model of the solar system. They construct small flying rockets out of paper and propel them by blowing air through a straw.
Curated OER
Rockets
Students explain the basics of rocketry and explain the relationships between mass, acceleration, and thrust.
Curated OER
Paper Rockets
Students create rockets to test stability. In this rocketry lesson, students discover how rockets fly through air as they follow the procedures included in this activity.
Curated OER
3-2-1 Pop!
Students explore rocketry and demonstrate how rocket liftoff is an application of Newton's Laws of Motion. They construct a rocket powered by the pressure generated from an effervescing antacid tablet reacting with water.
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
Model Rockets
Learners study the basics of a model rocket and its classifications. In this rocket activity students determine the flight duration of a model rocket.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Water Rocket Launch
How do rockets fly? Teams design, build, and launch a rocket made from a two-liter bottle to explore forces on a rocket such as Newton's Laws of Motion. During the design phase, young engineers draw a diagram of their rocket and...
NASA
Marshall Space Flight Center: Timeline of Rocket History
This graphical presentation includes a collection of more than 50 images and descriptions tracing rocketry from ancient times to the present day.
Smithsonian Institution
Nat. Air and Space Museum: Pioneers of Flight: Rockets and Dream of Spaceflight
Read about the history of rocketry and the first rocket inventors who laid the initial foundation for the development of the spaceflight industry.
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Water Rocket Launch
The main focus of this instructional activity is learning about aerospace engineering and the principles of rocketry. To accomplish this, young scholars will work in teams to design, build, and launch a rocket made out of a soda bottle,...
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Blast Off
Hands on activity where learners focus on aerospace engineering to investigate space flight from the viewpoint of an engineer. They design, build, and launch their rocket, then share their experiences with the class.
NASA
Ltp: Rocket Principles
Excellent NASA sponsored site on the principles of rockets. The site relates Newton's 3 laws to the flight of a rocket. Site also has links to activities related to rockets in addition to links about practical rocketry.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Strawkets and Control
In this activity, students investigate the effect that fins have on rocket flight. Students construct two paper rockets that they can launch themselves by blowing through a straw. One "strawket" has wings and the other has fins. Students...
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Rockets
HyperPhysics site with dealing with the mathematics of rocket flight. The site is interactive and allows the user to input data. This is a rather high level site and, while any student could use it to get answers, to understand some of...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: The Optimal Bottle Rocket Launch
Students build rocket models designed for gaining the maximum height. They use a compressed air rocket launcher and 2-liter plastic bottles. They will also use an online simulator to help them make predictions and adjustments to their...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Strawkets and Thrust
In this activity, students investigate the effect that thrust has on rocket flight. Students will make two paper rockets that they can launch themselves by blowing through a straw. These "strawkets" will differ in diameter, such that...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Strawkets and Weight
In this activity, students investigate the effect that weight has on rocket flight. Students construct a variety of their own straw-launched rockets, or "strawkets," that have different weights. Specifically, they observe what happens...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Newton Gets Me Moving
In this instructional activity, learners will explore motion, rockets and rocket motion while assisting Spacewoman Tess, Spaceman Rohan and Maya in their explorations. They will first learn some basic facts about vehicles, rockets and...
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Model Rockets
Explore how the materials and shape of a rocket affect its performance. Watch kids use the scientific method to figure out how to build a model rocket that will reach 1,600 feet.