Halloween Straw Rockets
Bats and witches are taking off this Halloween with a fun and simple Halloween STEM activity your students will love! I love a low-prep, high-impact project as much as any other teacher, and straw rockets are always a hit. With some basic supplies you probably already have, kids can launch spooky bats and witches into the air in no time. Best of all, they can take them home and teach their families the science behind their Halloween Straw Rockets!
Spooky STEM Fun: Build Halloween Straw Rockets
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What Is the Science Behind a Straw Rocket?
Even though these rockets seem like a fun Halloween distraction, they’re actually a great way to explore Newton’s Third Law of Motion: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” When you blow into the straw to launch your rocket, you create a pocket of air pressure that sends the rocket flying. This pressure is called thrust, and it’s what makes your rocket soar.
Don’t miss our fun Christmas Straw Rockets project!
How Do Straw Rockets Work? The Physics in Action
The magic behind a straw rocket is simple but powerful. When you blow into the straw, you create a pocket of high-pressure air that pushes the rocket forward. This push is known as thrust. As the rocket flies, it’s met with air resistance—the friction between the rocket and the air.
Understanding how shape, size, and weight affect flight can help students build rockets that fly farther and faster. A rocket with a smooth, pointed nose cuts through the air more easily than one with a flat, bulky nose.
Encourage your students to experiment with design modifications (different fins, paper weights, or rocket shapes) to see how each change affects performance.
Another important factor is launch angle. A launch straight up (90 degrees) gives more height but less distance. Launching at around 45 degrees typically gives maximum distance. Have the kids test different angles and record their results to see Newton’s principles in action!
Learn more about these principles with our Paper Airplane Challenge.
Building Your Halloween Straw Rockets
This Halloween classroom STEM project encourages kids to think like engineers—design, test, modify, and test again! Provide students with fun Halloween clip art templates (bats, witches, ghosts) or let them create their own spooky rocket designs.
Materials Needed
- 2 drinking straws – one wide (milkshake straw) and one standard
- Paper for your rocket body (printer paper or cardstock both work)
- Scissors
- Heavy tape (masking or packing tape)
- Markers, crayons, or colored pencils for decorating
Halloween Straw Rocket Templates
You can access these templates by simply entering your email in the form to unlock the printables.
Instructions: How to Make Halloween Straw Rockets
Build the Body
Cut out your spooky template or draw your own design. You can create a classic rocket shape and add your Halloween character—or attach your character directly to the launch mechanism. Challenge students to test both options and compare how each flies.
Create the Launch Mechanism
Use the wide straw to form an airtight pocket by bending one end over and taping it closed. Then tape this pocket to the underside of your rocket.
Launch
Slide the rocket’s straw pocket onto the launch straw, take a deep breath, and blow hard to launch your spooky creation! Watch how far it flies and record the distance.
Safety Note
Always remind students not to aim or launch their rockets toward others. Ensure there’s plenty of open space for safe testing and no sharp objects or hard projectiles are used in rocket construction.
More Exploration & Experimentation
Encourage kids to test and improve their rocket designs through trial and error.
Compare two designs side by side and record flight distances.
Use a slow-motion camera or tablet to record the launches and analyze the flight path.
Ask reflective questions:
- What changes made the biggest difference? Shape, weight, or launch angle?
- How did air resistance affect your rocket’s flight?
Cross-Curricular & Extension Ideas
I love a cross curricular opportunity and adapting projects to your class, here are some ideas to inspire your classroom lesson planning.
Math: Record and graph flight distances and launch angles. Then have students create a ‘Launch Log’ by having them track flight distance, launch angle, and flight time in a data chart. Integrate math and data analysis by having them graph their results.
ELA: Write a creative story about the rocket’s journey. Combine literacy and art by having students write a spooky story about their bat, witch, or ghost rocket’s adventure!
Art: Design spooky rocket themes with symmetry and balance. Or challenge kids to design themed rockets (e.g., pumpkin rockets, ghost gliders) and vote on the best design based on creativity and flight performance.
Science: Research how NASA engineers use similar physics principles to launch rockets into space.
Halloween Straw Rockets FAQs
They demonstrate Newton’s Third Law of Motion—every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
Two straws, paper, scissors, tape, and coloring tools.
Test different launch angles, shapes, and weights to reduce air resistance and improve thrust.
Yes, with supervision and by using soft materials. Remind kids not to aim at people or fragile objects.
STEM Learning Takeaway
This Halloween STEM activity is more than a simple craft, it’s an engaging way to teach engineering, physics, and the scientific method. Students explore thrust, air resistance, and experimental design while expressing creativity through seasonal art.
It’s hands-on, exciting, and unforgettable – the perfect blend of science and Halloween fun.
Happy Halloween and happy launching!