Activity- Rockets
Trigger – video of a rocket going into space
Wonder- What is making the rocket move? Discuss different methods of moving objects.
Explore- Try out different ways to move objects.
- Move a balloon attached to a straw along a piece of string by letting the air out of the balloon
- Propelling a bottle using water and fizzing tablet
- Propelling an object sitting on top of an open bottle by squashing the bottle, pushing out the air
- Launching a foam rocket using cylinder and elastic bands.
Investigate
Ask the children to design and make a rocket using a range of Materials including cylinder rolls.
Question- How far will the rockets go when launched using a slingshot style launcher.
Predictions- Each group predicts a distance (linkage: maths)
Conduct the experiment- Discuss fair test: all groups start at the same position, all use the same rocket launcher, only difference is the force used and the materials used (both of which would be discussed after the Investigation when discussing results.
Sharing/Interpreting results- Discuss distances measured, materials used, possible forces affecting the launch. Display results using a bar chart or pictogram.
Next steps- what could have been done differently? Evaluate design of rockets. Discuss pull force. A marker to indicate how far to pull back the launcher.
