Get ready for lift-off with our Balloon Rockets Experiment! This hands-on investigation helps students explore the principles of force and motion through a fun and engaging activity. As part of your National Science Week program or physical sciences unit, this experiment invites students to predict, test, observe, and reflect on how air pressure can be transformed into movement.

Students will create a balloon-powered rocket using simple classroom materials such as string, straws, and tape. As they launch their rockets, they will observe how the escaping air pushes the balloon in the opposite direction - demonstrating the action-reaction principle of Newton’s Third Law. With opportunities to modify variables and test outcomes, students can deepen their understanding of motion, energy, and the importance of fair testing.

This resource promotes collaborative learning, creative problem solving, and scientific inquiry. It’s perfect for Year 4 to Year 6 students who are developing their knowledge of how forces act on objects and how experiments can help explain the world around them.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Understand how forces affect the motion of objects
• ✅ Explore how energy is transferred and transformed through air pressure
• ✅ Develop skills in predicting, observing, and recording scientific results
• ✅ Learn how changing variables can affect an outcome
• ✅ Build collaboration, discussion, and critical thinking through experimentation

What’s Included:

• Step-by-step procedure for setting up the balloon rocket
• Student worksheet with sections for prediction, observation, and reflection
• Prompts for experimenting with different variables
• Illustrations to support independent or group use

Materials Needed:

• Balloons (various sizes and shapes)
• Plastic straws (cut in half)
• String or fishing line
• Sticky tape
• Paper clips or pegs (optional for added weight)
• Printed worksheets

How to Use:

1. Introduce the concept of force and how air can create movement.
2. Set up a long piece of string between two fixed points (e.g. chairs, fences, walls).
3. Thread a straw onto the string - this will act as the rocket base.
4. Blow up a balloon (do not tie it), tape it to the straw, and let go.
5. Observe how the balloon moves and record results using the worksheet.
6. Repeat the experiment, changing one variable at a time (e.g. balloon size or angle of the string).

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use during National Science Week to explore real-world applications of force and motion
• 💡 Set up multiple launch stations for small group exploration
• 💡 Incorporate into a STEM challenge focused on distance or accuracy
• 💡 Pair with a read-aloud about rockets or space travel for cross-curricular connections
• 💡 Create a class data wall comparing rocket speeds and variables

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Choose an outdoor space or long hallway to give rockets plenty of room to travel
• 💛 Emphasise the concept of a fair test by discussing variables before beginning
• 💛 Let students decorate their rockets for added ownership and excitement
• 💛 Use the experiment as a lead-in to discussions about real rockets and space travel

The Balloon Rockets Experiment is a high-energy way to help students explore key physics concepts through real-world inquiry. With plenty of opportunity for creativity, testing, and collaborative thinking, this experiment is sure to inspire your young scientists and make motion come to life.

Be sure to check out our other National Science Week resources!