Straw Rocket STEM Challenge (Forces & Motion, Variables)

lesson overview

Rockets are always a student’s favorite! This STEM challenge pack includes a paper rocket activity, straw rocket engineering design challenge, handouts on Newton's Laws and forces, and extension problems on variable testing and graphing.

Topics covered in the Straw Rocket STEM challenge:

* Forces & motion

* Newton's Third Law

* Engineering Design Process

* Angles

* Variables & testing

(1) Paper Rocket Activity: Students make a paper rocket with the template provided and then launch with a smaller straw.

(2) Straw Rocket Challenge: Students design and build a straw rocket to be launched with a Pitsco straw rocket launcher. Students test different variables to achieve a mission: (1) longest distance or (2) hit a target.

(3)Variable Testing: Students select a variable to test in order to optimize for longest distance. Students graph and reflect on results.

This packet includes:

- Detailed educator guide with links to resources

- Student handouts including Forces on a Rocket & Intro to Rocket Science

- Student recording packet for each step of the engineering design process

- Science extension activities to test and graph how different variables affect distance

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