3, 2, 1, blast off! Make learning about space fun, challenging and hands-on with this Space Asteroid Launcher STEM Challenge. The materials are simple and inexpensive, and perfect for groups or classrooms. Grab the free printable task card to make set up easy.

I love bringing STEM challenges into my classroom for my students. Kids are always excited to see new materials and an exciting activity. I have challenged my students to make catapults before and every time they are a hit and children design, build and test their catapult with full engagement and enthusiasm.

If you are looking to bring STEM learning to your classroom, or home, this space asteroid launcher STEM challenge is a great place to start. STEM activities generally include a mix of science, technology, engineering and math. These essential subject skills are built upon each time children explore a STEM challenge.

For more space themed activities that kids are sure to love, check out a Space Escape Room Game from Hands-On Teaching Ideas. Use printable puzzles to encourage reading and learning about space as kids solve clues and find their way through the escape room.

For more building challenges, check out 45 STEM Building Challenges filled with challenges that encourage problem solving and critical thinking.

Space Asteroid Launcher STEM Challenge Materials

One of the great things about this STEM challenge is that you may already have the materials on hand. They are supplies that children are familiar with, but they’re used in a whole new way. For this challenge, you will need:

• Jumbo Popsicle Sticks
• Elastics
• Spoon
• Pom Poms
• Free Task Card (available at bottom of post)

You can use virtually anything in place of the pom pom. If you have a small toy rocket or other material you can use it instead to represent the rocket or asteroid.

The free task card can be downloaded at the bottom of this post and printed today. They are available in black and white and color.

STEM Challenge Set Up

To prepare this STEM challenge, simply gather the materials and tell children the challenge. The task cards provide two slightly different challenges. One challenges children to create a rocket launcher, the other is a catapult to launch an asteroid. The challenge is done in the same way, however, you can choose to focus on one/wording that fits better with your child’s currently learning theme.

Once you have the materials, place them out for kids. You will need approximately 10 jumbo popsicle sticks for each catapult you plan to make. You will also need one spoon and a few elastics.

Challenge kids to use the supplies to create a catapult that they can then place an object, such as a pom pom on the spoon to send flying!

Part of the challenge is making sure only the few materials supplied are used. The activity is a challenge because kids have to look at the materials and discover what happens when they are put together in a certain way. They have to find a way to make a catapult.

Solutions

After doing this challenge many times, you will find that many of the catapults will look different. This is great! There is not just one possible solution in STEM challenges, there are many as long as the problem/challenge is solved.

Encourage children to explore and play around with the materials to create a catapult that launches the rocket/asteroid into the air. Once they make a catapult, they can test it to see how well it works. Once they test, encourage them to look at the materials, and their design again and think of ways that they can improve their catapult.

Have children consider what would happen if they added more popsicle sticks. Does having the base taller or thicker make a difference? What happens if you move the spoon further up, or down? Does the placement of the elastics make a difference? Encourage children to try different designs and see if it makes any difference, either better or worse.

Space Asteroid Launcher STEM Challenge

Extension Ideas

STEM challenges are a great activity to send home for children to build at home. You can create a STEM kit to include the materials as well as a copy of the task card. Seal in a bag and give to kids. This is a great project to send home over a break or even summer vacation.

If you want to add to the activity, you can have children paint their popsicle sticks, as shown below, to make their own catapult unique and creative.

Another great option for this activity is to create a challenge or game out of it once everyone has made their catapult. Line children, and catapults up, and have everyone send their rocket through the air. Whose goes the furthest? What is special about their design that makes it the best? After testing each catapult, give kids a chance to make any improvements and then test them again.

Another option is to set up containers with different numbers/points, or even pictures of planets, and challenge kids to aim for the containers. Each container can be worth a different amount and if kids get their asteroid or rocket into the container then they get that number of points. This can become a fun game between the kids.

Get the Free Printable Task Cards Here

The task cards are available in black and white and color. You can print and use them today. Click the grey box below and subscribe to Hands-On Teaching Ideas through Grow. Once you subscribe, the pdf of the file will appear. Download and print right away.

By subscribing through Grow you will also unlock the other freebies on this site. Shortly after subscribing you will receive an email with a link to the Free Resource Library. The library is filled with over 100 free resources, from escape rooms to math worksheets. There is a lot to choose from and new resources are being added all the time.

The printable cards include two variations of the challenge. You can choose whichever one suits your children and their learning best.