Compressed Air Rocket Workshop
Let your students become rocket scientists in this hands-on workshop where they will design, build and launch their own compressed air rocket!
The Neon quality mark shows this activity has been reviewed and meets Neon's quality standards.
Overview
Reach for the stars with this hands-on engineering experience! Students design, build, and launch their own compressed air rockets, learning the principles of flight and propulsion in a fun, competitive format. Rockets can soar over 30 metres and travel over 100 metres, bringing science to life in an unforgettable way.
The session starts with an introduction to rocket science. This may include demonstrations of some small alcohol fuelled rockets and the Wonderstruck Hoverchair if you haven’t already had the Wonderstruck Rocket Show as a starter activity.
Students then return to the classroom to work in pairs or teams of 3s to design and build their own rockets out of card and paper. The facilitator will encourage students to use their scientific knowledge to design and make their own fins and nose cones to allow their rocket to travel as far as possible.
Once ready, participants head outside to launch their rockets from specially built compressed air rocket launchers. This is typically a competitive workshop to see whose rocket can travel the furthest.
Wonderstruck highlight links to the curriculum and how this ties in with opportunities in STEM industries throughout the delivery of their workshops and shows.
Duration and capacity
Up to 300 participants.
Exact workshop duration depends on the number of participants but it’s typically somewhere between 60 and
90 minutes.
Cost and location
Starts at £550 + VAT.
Available in England and Wales.
Requirements
At full pressure, the Wonderstruck launchers can send a well-built rocket over 100 metres down range and up to 30 metres altitude. Don’t worry if you don’t have that kind of space as the facilitators can adjust the launcher pressure and inclination for smaller spaces.
Details
- Curriculum links
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- England primary science curriculum: Earth and space
- Scotland primary science curriculum: Sciences
- Northern Ireland primary science curriculum: Science and technology
- Wales primary science curriculum : The world around us
- Physics: Motion and forces
- Sciences - Forces, electricity and waves: Forces
- Physics: Forces
- Sciences - Forces and energy: Forces and energy transfer
- Group size
- Whole year group
- Participation level
- Hands-on
- Duration
- 1 to 2 hours
- Cost
- Cost applies
- Location
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In-school
- England
- Wales
Learning outcomes
- Improve engagement, interest or enjoyment in STEM subjects
- Attainment and progress
- Improve awareness and aspirations for STEM-related study and careers
- Challenge stereotypes by showing the diversity of disciplines, people and skills involved in engineering
Frameworks
EqualEx
- Introduce and Inspire
Essential skills
The essential skills every young person needs to succeed in education and their future career. Find out more at the Skills Builder Partnership. This experience builds the following skills:
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Enrichment framework
- 5 - An accessible and engagement enrichment offer
- 7 - An outcomes-focused enrichment offer
