Activity Introduction
Quick summary: In this experiment, students make a rocket using a film canister, an antacid tablet and a bit of water.
These Snappy Science resources have been created to boost science education in primary schools across Australia. Each lesson is designed to support teachers with the scientific knowledge, ideas and resources to stimulate a sense of wonder and curiosity in their students. Many of the big issues that Australian society will face in the future are around technology, energy, resources and climate change. All of these require students to engage with science – but most of all to enjoy science!
Science at Home: These Snappy Science resources can also be used to engage families in fun science and learning for life. You can download a student friendly version of this activity here and you can also check out the Snappy Science Digital Library.
General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.
Australian Curriculum content description: This activity is relevant to Science Inquiry Skills across all primary year levels of the Australian Curriculum.
Year 2 Science
- Different materials can be combined, including by mixing, for a particular purpose (ACSSU031)
Year 6 Science
- Changes to materials can be reversible, such as melting, freezing, evaporating; or irreversible, such as burning and rusting (ACSSU095)
Syllabus Outcomes: ST1-12MW, ST3-12MW.
Time required: 5 – 10 minutes.
Resources required: One fizzing antacid tablet (such as Mylanta or Quick-Eze), water, safety goggles, one empty 35mm plastic film canister and lid. These are getting harder to find, but stores that develop film should have some. (The white canisters work much better than the black ones do.) If you can’t find any film canisters you can use a small empty soft drink bottle with the lid on very loose – if the lid is on too tight the bottle will explode.
Safety advice: This is an ‘explosive’ experiment – depending on student age and ability this activity may be either a student-led experiment or a teacher-led demonstration. Ensure that the person conducting the experiment is wearing safety goggles and that observers are standing at least 2 metres away from the rocket.
Keywords: Rocket, film canister, antacid, carbon dioxide.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.
