• One balloon (plus a few spares in case one pops)
• Two straight straws including: One thin straw, and one wide straw that is wide enough to easily slide over the thin one. A straw for milkshakes or other large drinks works well.
• A few sheets of paper to make fins for your rocket
• Tape
• Scissors

Your challenge: How can you design and build design and build an air-powered rocket that can hit a target 5 feet away?

Build Your Launcher

• Build the air-powered launcher for your rocket.
• Take a thin straw and slide it into the mouth of the balloon.
• Use tape to attach the straw and seal up any gaps.
• To test your seal, inflate the balloon by blowing through the straw. Is your seal air-tight? Make sure none of the air is escaping through the seal.

Design and Build Your Rocket

• Once your launcher is ready, it’s time to design and build your rocket using your wide straw.
• The straw needs to be open at one end to take in the air from the balloon and closed off on the other end to harness that air power.
• To close off one end, you can fold one end over and secure with tape, or design another way of closing it off.

Brainstorm Designs for Your Fins

• Think about the stability of your rocket.
• How can attaching paper fins help you hit your target?
• How many fins do you think you need for a stable flight?
• Sketch out a few fin designs, choose one to try, and use tape to attach your fins to your rocket.

Test It Out!

• Inflate the launcher and pinch off the balloon to keep it inflated.
• Slide the rocket onto the thin straw of the launcher.
• Aim the rocket and, holding on to the rear of the balloon, release your pinched fingers.
• How far did it go? Did you hit your target or come close?

Make Change and Try Again!

• Experiment with your fins size, shape, number, and placement and observe how they affect the rocket’s flight to the target.
• Did you succeed? Try new challenge like building the rocket that goes as high as possible or experiment with different materials.

Share Your Results with a Teacher, Parent/Guardian, or DiscoverE!

• You can email photos to DiscoverE at social@DiscoverE.org