Rockets are an engaging way to introduce Physical World science concepts including:

  • Newton's laws
  • balanced and unbalanced forces
  • gravity
  • thrust
  • mass
  • aerodynamics.

NZ Ministry of Education Building Science Concepts books show how some of these concepts might build in sequence.

Book 42 Marbles: Exploring Motion and Forces https://scienceonline.tki.org.nz/Teaching-resources/Building-Science-Concepts/Titles-and-concept-overviews/Marbles-Exploring-Motion-and-Forces sequences non-contact forces (gravity) and balanced and unbalanced forces.

Book 34: Parachutes: Floating and Falling in Air https://scienceonline.tki.org.nz/Teaching-resources/Building-Science-Concepts/Titles-and-concept-overviews/Parachutes-Floating-and-Falling-in-Air sequences forces (gravity and air resistance) and object design for increasing or decreasing air resistance.

The following resources from the Science Learning Hub provide background information regarding forces and motion, how rockets work and the challenges of getting rockets into space.

Rocket Lab provides a real-world context for the science and technology behind rocket design and engine development.

NZC levels 1 and 2

Rockets and the forces required to get something into space (or off the ground) is a huge topic so it pays to remember what the curriculum has to say:

NOS Investigating in science emphasises the role of exploration, play, asking questions and discussing simple models.

NOS Communicating in science emphasises building language and understanding.

With younger students, keep it simple. Use exploration and play, with careful teacher questioning, to develop content vocabulary and to BEGIN to explore the physics of rockets and flight.

NZC level 3 and 4

Rockets are an ideal way to identify and describe the effect of forces on the motion of objects.

NOS Investigating in science emphasises asking questions, finding evidence, exploring simple models and simple investigations.

NOS Communicating in science emphasises content vocabulary, symbols and conventions.

Physical World
Identify and describe the effect of forces (contact and noncontact) on the motion of objects.

This introductory article curates many of the Hub's rocket resources. Use it to gain an overview of what is on the site.

This article also curates Hub resources. It uses questions as subtopics for exploration.

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Use this image to practise the science capability 'interpret representations'.

  • Which force does each arrow represent?
  • Why do the arrows point in different directions? What does this tell you?... Expand note

A rocket produces thrust to start it moving by pushing against the gases inside the rocket. This is an example of Newton's third law of action and reaction.

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The following resources feature New Zealand scientists and their endeavours to enter space.

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The following resources provide hands-on learning about forces and rockets.

The activity supports multiple science capabilities:

  • Gather and interpret data (observe launches and infer why they were successful or not)
  • Use evidence and critique evidence (the collection and examination of flight data)... Expand note

This interactive encourages students to use their knowledge of forces and mass to successfully launch a rocket.

The activity that follows has helpful information for those using this interactive with older students.

The following resources are helpful for planning.