Rocket Launch

What You'll Need:

• Elongated/Oblong Balloons
• Heavy Construction Paper (1 sheet per team)
• At Least 30' of Fishing Line (available at hardware stores)
• 4 Chairs
• 2 Straws
• Markers or Crayons
• Scotch Tape

1. Set up four chairs in a rectangle based on the guidelines in the illustration below.


2. Cut two 16' lengths of fishing line.


3. Thread a straw onto each length of fishing line, and attach the lines to the chairs as detailed below.

1. To start the game, divide the children into two teams, and give each team a piece of construction paper.


2. Each team must fold its piece of paper in half, and then draw a rocket on it.


3. Hang each team's rocket over one of the straws, balancing the papers at their folds.


4. Attach the underside of each paper to its straw with one or two pieces of tape, and then staple or tape together the bottom two flaps.


5. Thread a balloon through each rocket so that it rests below the straw and parallel to it; make sure the nozzle end sticks out toward the chair on the starting side. (See the illustration below for clarification on this process.)





6. Each team picks one person to blow up its balloon.


7. That teammate inflates the balloon and pinches it shut. (DO NOT tie off the balloons!)


8. Then, each team pulls its straw to the starting chair while continuing to hold the balloon shut.


9. When you say, "Blast Off!" the team member who is holding the balloon closed lets it go.


10. The team whose balloon touches the other chair first wins!