🎈 Exciting DIY Balloon Rocket: A Hands-On Learning Experience for Children

I love it when a cool summer experiment is so easy it only takes a couple minutes! This balloon rocket experiment is such a fun balloon activity for kids that teaches some simply physics while having fun. All you need for this balloon straw rocket are a few simple materials and you are ready to start learning, exploring, and having fun with balloon science! This balloon experiment is fun for preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, and 4th graders too.

Balloon Rocket

3, 2, 1 BLASTOFF! Whose balloon rocket will go the furthest? Does it matter if the rocket path goes uphill or winds? Find out in this super simple balloon rocket experiment for kids! This balloon rocket activity can be done outside for a fun summer science or indoors to bring some excitement to a dreary rainy day or cold winter day. Either wy, this balloon activity for kids is quick with just a few simple materials you probabaly already have on hand. This physics experiment for kids is fun for preschoolers, kindergartners, grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3 students.

Balloon Rocket Experiment

All you need for this simple physics activity for young children is a few simple materials you probably already have laying around your house:

2 or more balloons
string
2 or more straws (extra large work best)
clothespin (optional, but helpful)
tape
sharpie (optional)

Balloon Experiment

Attach a string from two object seperated by about 7-15 feet. You will need to remove one of the sides easily to land your rocket in a couple minutes.

If you are outside consider two trees, fence, swing set, etc.
Inside? Go betwee two chairs or parallel door handles.

Balloon Rocket Activity

This first step is optional, but decorating your balloon to look like a rocket just makes it more fun! So start by inflating your balloon and using a clothespin or holding it so the air doesn’t escape.

Rocket Balloon

Use a sharpie to draw a rocket. Careful with sharpie markers as they are permanent and will not come off clothes.

Balloon Rocket

Tape a straw on the top. We found it helpful to use extra large straws for easier threading!

Balloon Straw Rocket

Insert string from your rocket path into the straw. Re tie the end of the string. Repeat the entire process in an adjacent space so that the rockets can race!

Balloon rocket experiment explanation

This experiment beautifully demonstrates Newton’s Third Law of Motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In this case, when the air rushes out of the balloon, it creates a force in the opposite direction, which launches the balloon forward. It’s a great example of how forces interact and can be a fun introduction to basic physics concepts!

Physics Experiment for Kids

Count down 3….2…….1…… Lift off and remove the clothespin to send your rocketship soaring. They go super fast, don’t they! THis is such a simple summer science experiment with such a great WOW moment! Kids will excitedly want to try it again and again and again!

Extension Ideas:

Try going uphill
Go at a downward incline
Start with balloon inflated to a different size – which one will go further? Which one will go fastest?

Summer Experiment

This is fun, but how is it science? When you blow up the balloon you are filling it up with air that is under pressure. (Another word for that is potential energy.) When the air escapes from the balloon when you let go of it (kinetic energy) the escaping air exerts thrust or force on the balloon which propels it forward. The air escapes backward – the balloon races forward. Action – reaction.