Friday, April 27, 2012

Beyond Stomp Rockets


Peggy and I are running a Science Time Summer Camp at Lake Wylie Lutheran Preschool, June 11-15.

Our regular weekly format only gives us time to explore natural sciences.  This summer, I have four centers a day and the same kids five days in a row.  I get to plan all sorts of physical experiments.  (Insert mad scientist laugh track)

The family is getting in on the action also.  This weekend my husband and son built this rocket launcher for the camp.  Think stomp rockets on steroids.


The build only took an hour but the fun lasted five.  The whole family got into it.  At the end of the day we realized that a penny and a piece of paper made the best rockets, ten pumps flies as well as twenty for height but twenty five pumps lets you bug the neighbors in the next subdivision.  

Here is the link to the plans posted by Jeff Elmer, a physics teacher at Oshkosh North High School:  

If you already have a bicycle pump, the cost of the materials gives you a lot of bang for your buck.  The rocket launcher is really durable and will provide years of fun. We even plan on building a few of these for gifts.

My only modification for the preschool summer camp will be to spot tie the whole thing down to a 2'x4' piece of plywood so my there's and fours don't have to worry about keeping the bike pump upright.    

Anyone know of some other great Science Builds?  This household is always looking for the next project.

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