How To Make A Bottle Rocket (Printable Instructions)

Simple science and a cool chemical reaction with this fun DIY water bottle rocket! Kids and adults will have a blast with this easy to set up STEM project. Grab a few simple ingredients from the kitchen for amazing chemistry in action.

HOW TO MAKE A ROCKET WITH A BOTTLE

BOTTLE ROCKET PROJECT

This bottle rocket project is an easy way to get your kiddos excited about science! Who doesn’t love an explosive chemical reaction? This is sure to be a project you will want to repeat again and again!

Our science activities have you, the parent or teacher, in mind! Easy to set up, quick to do, most projects will take only 15 to 30 minutes to complete and are heaps of fun! Plus, our supplies lists usually contain only free or cheap materials you can source from home.

Check out all our chemistry experiments and physics experiments!

Grab an empty water bottle, and follow our step by step instructions to make a rocket that will blast off! Make sure to have an adult involved!

SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS

Science learning starts early, and you can be a part of that with setting up science at home with everyday materials. Or you can bring easy science experiments to a group of kids in the classroom!

We find a ton of value in cheap science activities and experiments. All our science experiments use inexpensive, everyday materials you can find at home or source from your local dollar store.

We even have a whole list of kitchen science experiments, using basic supplies you will have in your kitchen.

You can set up your science experiments as an activity focusing on exploration and discovery. Make sure to ask kids questions at each step, discuss what is happening and talk about the science behind it.

Alternatively, you can introduce the scientific method, get kids to record their observations and make conclusions. Read more about the scientific method for kids to help you get started.

Click here to get your free printable bottle rocket project!

HOW TO MAKE A BOTTLE ROCKET

Looking for more fun things to make? Check out all our engineering projects for kids.

SUPPLIES:

Rocket Template
Scissors
Tape
Paper straws
1 liter bottle
Wine cork
Paper towel
Baking Soda
Vinegar
Funnel

INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1: Print out your rocket template and use scissors to cut out.

STEP 2: Tape four straws to the top of your bottle so it will stand up on its own.

Tape the rocket printable to the bottle.

STEP 3: Pour a cup of vinegar into the bottle.

STEP 4: Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda into half a paper towel and fold it into a small tube.

STEP 5: Place your rocket on the launch pad (you will want to take this step outside if possible).

QUICKLY add the paper towel to the bottle and seal with the cork. Flip the bottle over and stand it up, then stand back!!

Adult supervision required for this step!

HOW DOES A WATER BOTTLE ROCKET WORK?

This chemical reaction occurs because of an acid {the vinegar} mixing with a base {baking soda}. When you add baking soda to the vinegar and the two combine a chemical reaction takes place and gas is created. The gas is called carbon dioxide. It is the gas which produces the fizzing eruption.

The narrow opening of the water bottle helps to shoot the eruption up higher because the gas is easily forced out and up.