Summer Library Challenge – Make a Stomp Rocket!

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Friendly Reminder: Making a Stomp Rocket counts towards an activity badge for Summer Library Challenge. If you complete this activity, make sure you go to Beanstack or talk to a staff member to mark your activity!

Explore the forces of flight and be a rocket scientist — with stuff you have at home!

When I was creating this version here, I really wanted it to be

  1. Made using stuff most people have already at home
  2. Small enough to experiment with indoors, even on rainy days!

Look through this gallery to see how I made mine and follow along to make your own!

You will need the following supplies: 1) A clean plastic bottle. I used a 20oz pop bottle for my example and removed the "Dr. Pepper" label. 2) A plastic drinking straw. I used a standard disposable drinking straw with the flexible bend portion. 3) Paper. I used 8.5 x 11in copy paper. 4) Writing utensils. My example image has a Sharpie permanent marker and a pencil, but pens, markers, and color pencils would work just as well!
Supplies and tools continued: 5) Scissors. These are used to cut the paper. 6) Tape. I used transparent Scotch tape. 7) A push pin or nail. This is used to create a small hole in the bottle cap. 8) Hot glue gun. This was the easiest for me to use.

You will need the following supplies:

  1. A clean plastic bottle. I used a 20oz pop bottle for my example and removed the “Dr. Pepper” label.
  2. A plastic drinking straw. I used a standard disposable drinking straw with the flexible bend portion.
  3. Paper. I used 8.5 x 11in copy paper.
  4. Writing utensils. My example image has a Sharpie permanent marker and a pencil, but pens, markers, and color pencils would work just as well!
  5. Scissors. These are used to cut the paper.
  6. Tape. I used transparent Scotch tape.
  7. A push pin or nail. This is used to create a small hole in the bottle cap.
  8. Hot glue gun. This was the easiest for me to use.
The next step is to cut some excess off of the straw using the scissors.
Using the push pin or nail make a hole in the bottle cap by pushing the sharp point into the plastic.
Continue using the push pin and carefully wiggle it around in the hole to increase the size of the hole. Make the hole in the cap just big enough to snuggly fit the straw through the hole.
  • The next step is to cut some excess off of the straw using the scissors.
  • Using the push pin or nail make a hole in the bottle cap by pushing the sharp point into the plastic.
  • Continue using the push pin and carefully wiggle it around in the hole to increase the size of the hole. Make the hole in the cap just big enough to snuggly fit the straw through the hole.
Take the straw and put the end of it through the hole you just made in the top of the bottle cap. The end of the straw should not extend too much past the hole, but just far enough to be secure. Then, add hot glue to the inside of the cap to keep the straw in place and seal the gap between the hole and straw. Try to avoid getting glue on the threads or it will be hard to screw the cap back on to the bottle.
Once the glue is cool, take the bottle cap that now has the straw attached and screw the cap back on the bottle.
  • Take the straw and put the end of it through the hole you just made in the top of the bottle cap. The end of the straw should not extend too much past the hole, but just far enough to be secure.
  • Then, add hot glue to the inside of the cap to keep the straw in place and seal the gap between the hole and straw. Try to avoid getting glue on the threads or it will be hard to screw the cap back on to the bottle.
  • Once the glue is cool, take the bottle cap that now has the straw attached and screw the cap back on the bottle.
Making the Nose Cone: Take some of the paper and a writing utensil and trace a circle. Using the scissors, carefully cut out the circle. Next, cut a portion of the circle out, like a pie slice. In the example I did, I cut about 1/4th of the circle out, resulting in a Pac-Man like shape. Doing this will make the next steps of folding and taping this paper piece into a cone easier!
Next, place one of the edges you just cut and place it on top of the other edge you cut and gently roll the paper inside itself to form a cone shape. Hold this in place with you finger.
Take a piece of tape and place it over the seam where the paper meets to keep the cone together.
  • Take some of the paper and a writing utensil and trace a circle.
  • Using the scissors, carefully cut out the circle.
  • Next, cut a portion of the circle out, like a pie slice. In the example I did, I cut about 1/4th of the circle out, resulting in a Pac-Man like shape. Doing this will make the next steps of folding and taping this paper piece into a cone easier!
Take the paper tube rocket body and add some hot glue around the top edge. Take the rocket body tube and gently push the glue edge into the nose cone. The glue will keep the nose cone attached to the body.
Decorate Your Rocket! In my example, I used washable markers and added various squiggles and stars around the rocket and put the text "WPPL" across the rocket body.
  • Take the paper tube rocket body and add some hot glue around the top edge.
  • Take the rocket body tube and gently push the glue edge into the nose cone. The glue will keep the nose cone attached to the body.
  • Now it’s time to decorate your rocket! In my example, I used washable markers and added various squiggles and stars around the rocket and put the text “WPPL” across the rocket body.
Put the bottle on the ground and make sure to angle the straw AWAY from the direction of other people and things! Now, place the rocket onto the straw by putting the hollow rocket body tube over the bent part of the straw. Get ready to STOMP and launch your rocket!
  • Put the bottle on the ground and make sure to angle the straw AWAY from the direction of other people and things!
  • Now, place the rocket onto the straw by putting the hollow rocket body tube over the bent part of the straw.
  • Get ready to STOMP and launch your rocket!
Lift your foot and stomp down on the plastic bottle to launch your rocket!
  • Lift your foot and stomp down on the plastic bottle to launch your rocket! BLAST OFF!

To infinity … and beyond! More ideas to launch your creativity

The stomp rocket I showed you here is not the only way to make yourself one!

For an extra challenge, make more than one, but change it up the second time you make it. See how the new one compares to the original and if you get different results! Some ideas for you to try:

  • Use a bigger straw
  • Try a different size bottle
  • Make the rocket smaller
  • Add fins to the rocket body

There are also plenty of great tutorials on different kinds of stomp rockets you can make, here are some to check out when looking to create yours:

If you make yourself a stomp rocket, I’d love to hear all about it! Have fun, be safe, keep trying!