How to Make a Homemade Stomp Rocket

Learn to build a fun stomp rocket launcher using simple household materials for hours of outdoor family entertainment.

  1. Gather Your Materials. You'll need a 2-liter plastic bottle, about 10 feet of PVC pipe (1/2 inch diameter), a PVC elbow joint, duct tape, foam pool noodles, and scissors or a craft knife. Most of these items can be found at hardware stores or you may already have them at home. The PVC pipe will be cut into two pieces - one short piece for the stomp pad and one longer piece for the launcher tube.
  2. Build the Launcher Base. Cut your PVC pipe into two pieces: one 12-inch piece and one 6-foot piece. Connect these with the elbow joint to create an L-shape. Tape the short end securely to the side of your plastic bottle using plenty of duct tape - this connection needs to be airtight. Make sure the bottle opening is completely sealed except for the connection to the pipe. Test the seal by blowing gently into the long pipe; you should feel resistance.
  3. Create the Rockets. Cut pool noodles into 6-8 inch sections to make your rockets. Each piece should fit snugly over the end of your launcher tube but not be so tight that it won't slide off easily. You can cut one end of each noodle at an angle to create a more aerodynamic nose cone. Make several rockets so you can have continuous fun without constantly rebuilding.
  4. Set Up for Launch. Find a large, open outdoor space away from windows, cars, and people. Place the launcher on the ground with the bottle end near your feet and the long tube pointing up at about a 45-degree angle. Load a foam rocket onto the end of the tube. Make sure younger children understand the safety zone and stay well clear of the launch area.
  5. Launch Your Rocket. Have your child place a rocket on the end of the tube, then step back to a safe distance. The person launching should stomp firmly on the plastic bottle with both feet. The air pressure will shoot the rocket forward. Retrieve rockets only after everyone has finished their turns launching. Try different stomp strengths and tube angles to see how it affects distance and height.