Rockets Red Glare

In this high-energy engineering challenge, participants will design and build a launcher to send “fireworks” soaring through the air. With each launch, precision, strategy, and teamwork will be put to the test. Get ready for a star-spangled competition filled with excitement and creativity!

3.1. Conduct investigations to explain the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces exerted on an object, varying the size, number, and direction of the forces. Examples: balanced forces pushing from both sides of an object, such as a box, producing no motion; unbalanced force on one side of an object, such as a ball, producing motion Cause and Effect

3.2. Observe and measure an object’s motion to provide evidence that a pattern of motion can be used to predict future motion. Examples: a child swinging on a swing, a ball rolling back and forth in a bowl, two children going up and down on a seesaw, a model vehicle rolling down ramps of varying heights, a swinging pendulum

Resources and suggestions for teachers:

Your team will not know the exact engineering challenge until competition day. You can help them prepare by practicing the Engineering Design Process with simple STEM activities ahead of time.

Planning Phase

Set a Time Limit: Start with 20 minutes of planning, then reduce it to 10 minutes to match the competition's pacing.
Read the Criteria and Constraints: Have students read the rules and requirements without a step-by-step explanation from you.
Brainstorm: Encourage every student to share ideas. Guide them in reaching a consensus on one plan.
Draw a Plan: Require a labeled sketch before building begins.

Building Phase

Choose Materials: Provide extra/random supplies so they practice selecting what’s useful rather than being told what to use.
Assign Roles: Help the team divide jobs (builder, tester, measurer, recorder). Rotate so all students practice different roles.
Test and Improve: Allow them to test during building and guide them in making adjustments (redesigns).

Normalize Failure: Reinforce that unsuccessful attempts are part of the process—failure provides feedback for redesign.

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