Ingredients
- 4 straight paper or plastic drinking straws, 8 inches long and about 1/4 inch wide
- 4 pieces of lightweight paper, each 2 inches by 4 inches
- 8 small pieces of cardstock, each 1 inch by 1 1/2 inches
- 1 roll of clear tape, about 3/4 inch wide
- 1 pair of scissors with a 3-inch cutting edge
- 1 ruler, 12 inches long
- 1 pencil or fine-tip marker
- 1 glue stick, 0.74 ounces, for optional paper decoration
- 1 sheet of scrap paper, at least 12 inches by 18 inches
- 1 small basket or shallow box, about 8 inches wide, for holding cut pieces (optional)
Instructions
- Cover the table with scrap paper before you begin.
- Measure and cut four body papers to 2 inches by 4 inches.
- Choose a paper pattern for each rocket and leave the last 1/2 inch near one short edge mostly clear.
- Wrap one paper rectangle around the outside of a straw, starting at one short edge.
- Hold the rolled paper in place and add a strip of clear tape along the seam.
- Slide the paper tube about 1/2 inch past one end of the straw and fold that extra paper inward to create a small closed nose.
- Seal the nose with a 1 1/2-inch strip of clear tape.
- Cut eight fins from cardstock, measuring 1 inch by 1 1/2 inches, and round one corner of each fin if desired.
- Fold each fin lengthwise and tape two fins near the open end of one rocket, opposite each other.
- Slide the open end of the rocket over a straw.
- Test the rocket by blowing through the straw.
- Adjust one detail at a time if the rocket spins or drops quickly.
- Make the remaining three rockets with the same measurements and pattern.
- Gather the tape scraps and paper trimmings, then store the finished rockets in a shallow box for 5 minutes.
- Remove the tape from the straws slowly to reuse them.
Notes
Give children room to launch the rockets away from people and pets. Children ages 5 and up can help with measuring, drawing, and testing when an adult handles the scissors.
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
