At-Home Activity: Design and Build Your Own Rocket
Rockets and other spaceships are featured in many science fiction books and movies. In these stories, high-powered spaceships are usually able to travel to multiple galaxies without much effort. Unfortunately, we are not able to travel like that in the real world, but rockets are still used a lot for human space flight and other means. We’re going to show you a simple yet fun rocket building activity that’s perfect for anyone who enjoys space. Adult supervision is recommended for this activity. You’ll also find a bonus story-writing activity below that you can use to feature your new rocket.
Image credit: SpaceX / Unsplash
How to Build Your Own Rocket
Materials
The materials you’ll need to build your rocket.
Empty paper towel tube (a toilet paper tube will also work if you want a smaller rocket)
Piece of cardboard
Construction paper
Scissors
Glue or tape
Washable paint
Aluminum foil
Optional: glitter
Instructions
Cut two slits on one end of the tube.
Cut a triangle out of your piece of cardboard.
Slide the triangle into the slits that you made in the tube so that the bottom of the triangle is flush with the bottom of the tube. This will become the bottom of the rocket.
Twist a piece of construction paper until you’ve made a cone shape. This will be the top of the rocket.
Take the cone you’ve just made and place it into the top of the tube with the pointed side down.
You will now measure the cone so that it will fit into the tube. While the pointed end of the cone is still in the tube, cut off the access paper so that the tip of the cone inside the tube is all that is left.
Remove the cone from the tube and glue or tape the paper together so the cone shape stays put.
Glue or tape the cone onto the top of the tube.
Wrap everything (except the paper cone at the top) in aluminum foil.
Paint the foil. If you want, you may also use glue and the optional glitter to decorate the rocket as well. Once dry, you have a rocket ship!
An example of a rocket ready to be decorated. (Image credit: Julie Nixon)
Put Your Craft Skills to the Test
Your rocket can be as simple or as decorated as you want. You can add windows or rocket fire, for example.
You can add or glue additional materials to your rocket such as beads, stickers, tissue paper, or other items you can find.
Instead of paint, you can use markers to decorate.
You do not have to put aluminium foil on the rocket if you don’t like the look. Leave it plain or choose something else you like better.
Watch a video of a rocket being made (in a slightly different fashion) here.
Write an Exciting Science Fiction Story
What will your science fiction story look like?
Write a science-fiction story that features your rocket. Use these tips below to start:
Plot: What are the primary events that happen in your story? Where is the rocket going and who is going to fly it? It could be a scientific mission to another planet to try to find valuable resources or seek out alien life. Or the people on the rocket could be on a trip to the next galaxy for a reason of your choice.
Setting: When and where does your story take place? In the present or the future? On Earth, another planet, or in deep space? You could also think of a location that scientists know exists such as a certain asteroid, planet, or galaxy.
Problem: Most great stories have a problem that needs to be solved or a difficult situation that the main characters may have to get out of. What is the problem in your story? Try to make your characters solve it using science!
Characters: Who are your characters? What are their names and what do they do for work? Are they astronauts, navigators, or scientists? Are any of them not human? How does each character act and react to the storyline you’ve created?
Rocket: Don’t forget to add more information about your rocket when you write your story. What type of rocket is it? Where and when was it built? Who built it? Describe what it looks like. Does your rocket have a special name?
If you like to draw, feel free to create pictures of the exciting events that happen in your story. Draw each character, and don’t forget to feature a picture of your rocket as well!
By Megan Goldsmith
