Engineering for Kids | DIY Soda Rockets

Engineering for kids is a passion around here. Our oldest son is always tinkering, taping, creating and maneuvering things to figure them out. One of his absolute favorite things to tinker with is anything that flies. This week we are excited to share this awesome activity to encourage engineering for kids. This simple DIY soda rocket is out of this world.

Engineering for Kids Baking Soda Rockets

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Engineering for Kids | DIY Soda Rockets

Setting up the Experiment

As with almost all of our projects, we use child led practices to create and experiment. This means that I usually don’t give the children a set of instructions to try and replicate, but instead ask guiding questions and am there just to support their ideas. For this experiment, we talked a lot about things that fly and researched ways to make items fly. We did a big study of potential and kinetic energy and with force and motion.

What you need for vinegar baking soda rockets

After studying these for some time, the boys decided on the following items for their rockets.

Materials:

Styrofoam Cone
Cork Board
Washi Tape
Soda bottles
Rubber Cork (we used a #4)

Vinegar
Baking Soda
Tissue Paper

Creating DIY Soda Rockets

This was probably one of the most exciting parts of the project. I love watching little brains think and problem solve. Without a given set of instructions, the boys needed to design a rocket that would not only look cool, but also could fly!

Steps for Making Vinegar Baking Soda Rocket

The first thing they did was trace the water bottle they planned to fit inside the styrofoam cone. With my help, we then cut and dug out a hole to put the bottle in for the end of the project. If you are making these ahead for children, I would suggest doing this step before the children are there.

STEAM baking soda rocket

Next, they decided they needed to cut out a space to put the wings of the rocket. With adult supervision, they used a box cutter to make 3 slots at the bottom of the cone.

How to make a vinegar and baking soda rocket

The wings were a little trickier. At first they tried making just triangles but learned that they wouldn’t sit flat on the ground that way. Using scrap paper, they tested and tried about 3 designs before they came up with the design they ended up with. They used this design to trace and cut out foam board for 3 wings.

Creating a Baking Soda Rocket Experiment

Finally, it was time to decorate the rockets. If it were up to me, we definitely would have painted. In fact, I was looking forward to it! However, the boys really wanted to use Duct tape and, honestly, it turned out so cool this way. I love watching little brains work and create!

Conducting the Experiment | Launching the Soda Rockets

Engineering a Kids Soda Rocket Ready for Blast Off!

Finally, the rockets were ready! Each boy had a rocket, and my oldest even had 2 (I told you he loves anything and everything rockets). Aside from it being -10 degrees, we were ready for the perfect launch day.

Creating a Baking Soda Rocket

Once again, I did not tell the boys what they should do for the chemical reaction, but we play and explore fizzing and reactions so much that they are pretty familiar with the cause and effects of many combinations. They tried water and alka-seltzer but nothing happened from them. They decided the bottles were too big and the rockets were too heavy.

So they turned to the classic baking soda and vinegar reactions. They poured vinegar in the rocket, and placed baking soda on 1 square of tissue paper. They wrapped the baking soda in the tissue (so the reaction would be slowed). When everyone was in a safe position, they pushed the tissue into the bottle and corked the bottle. Then, they quickly turned the bottle over and waited for the launch.

Vinegar Baking Soda Rockets

When we did this experiment this summer, the rockets blasted to the neighbors yard, so we know it works. However, it was -10 this day and it was extremely hard to work in those temperatures. The rockets definitely “flew” but not a great distance. We can’t wait to try this again when it is warmer and we will add in more images and even a fun video. For now, this is all I have 🙂

Steam Activities for Kids

I am excited to be taking part in a month long series focused on STEAM activities for kids! I am honored to be joining some of my favorite blogs that encourage critical thinking and problem solving in young children. This month all of our projects have the theme of “FLY”.

Dancing Balloons

Parachutes

Whirly Twirly Flying Birds

Indoor Boomerang

Paper airplane

Hot air balloons

Do you have a favorite STEAM Powered Activity? I would love to know! Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram or subscribe by email. I can’t wait to hear your ideas.

More Adventures in Engineering

Engineering the Perfect Egg Drop Project Engineering for Kids with Peeps Catapults Stem Challenge Building with Gum Drops

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21 thoughts on “Engineering for Kids | DIY Soda Rockets”

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  4. I love how your boys worked through their ideas on how to make the rocket launch. Bravo! I can see how weather would play a role. If I remember correctly, one of the issues with the Challenger space shuttle launch related to too-cold temperatures.

  5. These are awesome! I love that your boys designed and problem-solved! This is STEAM at it’s best!

  6. I saw kids doing something similar at a park once and it was so awesome. Great post and so happy to get to know your blog as part of this series!

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