Looking for a fun and easy activity that gets kids laughing, learning, and moving? These straw rockets are the perfect blend of craft and play! With just a few supplies and my free printable rocket template, kids can design, build, and launch their very own rockets. It’s a quick STEM activity that shows how force and motion work—while keeping little astronauts entertained for hours.
Looking for more fun crafts? I have everything you need to keep kids busy and engaged—let me help you turn off the tablet and turn on creativity! Check out 100’s of Kids Crafts and Activities for even more ideas.
We like to be armed with some fun activities up our sleeves to battle the boredom that is bound to surface. What I don’t like are activities that take longer to set up than to play. Simple and easy is the ticket for us! These rocket ship straws take just a couple of minutes to get ready and are simple enough for the kids to put together on their own!
Why STEM Activities Like This Matter
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) doesn’t have to be complicated. Hands-on projects like straw rockets teach kids problem-solving, creativity, and simple physics in a way that feels like play. When they decorate, assemble, and launch their rockets, they’re experimenting with aerodynamics, airflow, and design—without even realizing they’re learning.
It’s activities like this that spark curiosity and help children see science as fun, approachable, and exciting.
What You’ll Need:
- Narrow Bendy Straw
- Wider Bendy Straw
- Scissors
- Rocket Printable
- Double-sided sticky tape
- Crayons or colored pencils (optional)
- Free Rocket Printable (download here)
How to Make Straw Rockets
- Print Your Rockets
Start with the free printable rocket template. Symmetrical rockets work best because they can be decorated on both sides. We chose the blank version so kids could color and personalize them.
- Decorate
Decorate your rocket with crayons, colored pencils, or even stickers for extra flair.
- Cut Out Rockets
Then cut out your rockets. Each straw rocket will need two cutouts—one for the front and one for the back.
- Attach the Straw
- Trim the bendy part off the narrow straw, leaving the straight piece.
- Place a strip of double-sided tape down the center of one rocket cutout.
- Lay the straw in the tape and sandwich it with the second rocket cutout.
- Place the other rocket on top of the straw to make it two-sided. Press the top of the rocket together with the tape to seal. Seal the little “legs” with two little triangles of tape.
- Trim the wider straw to about 3 ½ inches.
- Slide the narrow straw inside the wider straw.
- Blast Off!
Count down—3, 2, 1, blast off! Blow through the wide straw and watch your rocket soar.
What little one doesn’t love playing astronaut?!
Fun Add-Ons
- Have a rocket-decorating station with crayons, markers, or stickers.
- Hold a rocket-launch contest to see whose rocket flies the farthest.
- Tie it into a space unit at school, VBS, or summer camp for an extra learning boost.
For more fun boredom busting ideas check Michelle’s blog A Little Tipsy.
More Fun Paper Crafts and STEM Activities for Kids
If your kids loved making straw rockets, here are more hands-on crafts and simple STEM projects they’ll enjoy. Each one sneaks in a little creativity, science, or engineering while keeping things fun!
- Bubble Wrap Painting – Turn bubble wrap into a stamp to create colorful, textured artwork that kids love.
- Accordion Paper Flower Craft – Bright and cheerful flowers kids can fold, decorate, and gift.
- Puppy Ears Card Craft (Free Template) – A playful card with moving tongue that doubles as a mini lesson in levers and pulls.
- Printable Flying Paper Bird (FREE Printable) – Another fun lesson in motion—just print, fold, and watch the bird fly.
- Flextangle (FREE Printable Template)– A mesmerizing paper toy kids can color, fold, and flip for endless patterns and surprises.
- Paper Cup Mechanical Claw – Learn about mechanics and motion by building a working claw from paper cups.
I would love to keep you fully stocked with creative ideas, yummy recipes, fun crafts, and loads of free printables. Subscribe to Skip to my Lou to get new ideas delivered to your inbox. Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram for all my latest updates.
Debbie, make sure the top of the two rockets are sealed together. I bet you could use glue or glue stick to put this craft together too. Hope this helps.
Yes, when you put the two rockets together, make sure to seal the top. “Press the top of the rocket together with the tape to seal.” Hope this helps.
Doesn’t work. Looked cute. I didn’t have two sided tape,so maybe th as t is why.
Love this idea! Do you have to seal the top of the straw that is being taped to the rocket? How does the rocket launch? I’ll be making these this weekend!