Preschool Science
Rocket Experiment

“It’s not Rocket Science!”

How many times have you heard that?

This is a cool preschool science stuff!

Well – not real rockets but you can create balloon rockets.First, teach the kids a little about the air.

Show them how it can exist without us seeing it, that it’s invisible but definitely there. Use a balloon as an example by blowing one up. The magic of something you cannot see making something big like a blown up balloon can surprise them in a good way.

Now for the experiment:

Take a clear glass and fill it with 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of vinegar will go into a second glass.

Add one-teaspoon baking soda to the water and watch what happens, which will be nothing but point it out.

Now add one-teaspoon baking soda to the vinegar and watch the reaction. These two put together form CO2, although you still cannot see the gas.

Now for the rocket (yea!).

Pour one inch of vinegar into a narrow necked bottle.

Then, add a teaspoon of baking soda into a balloon .

Place the balloon around the mouth of the bottle, and when ready, allow the baking soda to fall into the vinegar and watch the balloon rise.

Now you can let the balloon rip as you loosen it from the bottle. This project also covers Newton’s law of opposite and equal reaction.

Safety Notes:

Protective eye wear is recommended in case the balloon explodes. Never point the bottle and balloon at anyone. We do not recommend ingesting any materials. Balloons should stay away from mouths as they can cause choking. If you are working with smaller children or kids that scare easily, you might warn them that the balloon will pop.