Toilet Paper Tube Rocket!

We up-cycled toilet paper tubes into rockets!  The boys LOVED painting the tubes.  It was fun to paint on something other than paper.

This is what we did:

 

1. Paint the outside of toilet paper tubes with blue tempera paint.
2. Cut out and paint 3 fins from a cereal box to use on the bottom of the rocket.  Make sure they are relatively the same size.  I traced the first one to make the other two.
3. Cut 3 slits in the tube evenly spaced out.
4. Cut a small slit in each of the fins.
5. Fold the fins in opposite directions just where you cut the slit.  You're creating flaps to attach them to the tube.
6. Insert the folded fins into the slits on the tube and tape down.
7. Make a semi-circle.  This is going to be the top of the rocket.  The easiest way to do that is:  measure the circumference (outside) of the tube with a piece of string.  Tie the string to a pencil.  Holding your string at the midpoint, draw a semi-circle with your pencil. 
8. Fold the semi-circle into a cone shape and staple, tape, or glue together..
9. Tape long strips of construction paper to the inside of the cone. (nearest to the point as possible.  This is the exhaust from the rocket.
10. Insert the construction paper strips into the tube.  They keep the cone in place!
11. You're done! 

This was a fun little project for the boys to do.  It took us about 30 minutes!  I think they would look cool if we decorated them with stickers or flags.  Enjoy!