Become a Bugstronaut Engineer!

Fizz. Pop. Fly!

Can you help Fizzbit the Bugstronaut return home?

This exciting hands-on STEM activity transforms children into real scientists as they investigate the perfect launch conditions for their bug-powered rockets. Every launch is packed with suspense, excitement, and scientific discovery!

Add water and a fizz tablet to the rocket tube, snap on the bug-topped lid, and wait…

At first, nothing seems to happen.

But inside the tube, something incredible is taking place. The tablet is fizzing away, releasing an invisible gas called carbon dioxide. The pressure builds higher… and higher… and then…

POP! WHOOSH!

Your Bugstronaut blasts into the air!

A Complete STEM Investigation Kit

Bug Blaster isn’t just a rocket activity – it’s a complete scientific investigation that encourages children to:

Ask questions
Make predictions
Carry out fair tests
Measure and record results
Identify patterns
Draw conclusions
Think like real scientists and engineers.

Three Missions. One Bugstronaut. Endless Discoveries.

Mission 1 – The Launch Angle Challenge

Become a Bugstronaut scientist! Investigate launch angle, discover how many launches one tablet can power, and explore how water affects rocket performance.

Which launch angle makes your Bugstronaut travel the furthest?

Mission 2 – Fuel Efficiency Investigation

How many launches can one fizz tablet power?

Mission 3 – Launch Power Investigation

How does the amount of water affect your rocket’s performance?

Each mission encourages children to experiment, collect evidence, and improve their designs—just like real space engineers.

Science iT!

This activity is part of the Science iT! range, where ordinary objects become extraordinary investigations. In Bug Blaster, an everyday effervescent tablet tube becomes a fizz-powered rocket laboratory!

Science It! is the hands-on STEM activity range from Science2Life, inspiring children to investigate, discover and ignite their curiosity through exciting science investigations

What’s Included?

Launch your Bugstronaut into the sky with this exciting fizz-powered rocket investigation kit. Decorate, experiment and discover the science of gas pressure and forces.

• Everything you need to launch, investigate and think like a scientist!

  10 reusable fizz rocket tubes

  10 Bugstronaut toppers

  6 tubes of effervescent fuel tablets (120 tablets) – enough for approximately 120 launches straight out of the box

  Printed Curriculum-Linked Teacher Guide – including launch instructions, safety guidance, scientific explanations, extension ideas and teacher support notes.

  Printed Bug Blast Mission Log Booklet – an ink-saving pupil workbook featuring three exciting scientific investigations:

  • Mission 1 – Launch Angle Challenge
  • Mission 2 – Fuel Efficiency Investigation
  • Mission 3 – Launch Power Investigation

  Digital Resource Pack – both the Teacher Guide and Mission Log Booklet are also supplied electronically, making them easy to print, photocopy and use again and again.

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  Plus…

  Enough materials for approximately 120 launches

  Reusable year after year

  Minimal preparation required

  Perfect for lessons, STEM clubs, science festivals and family events

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  Big launches. Big discoveries. Big smiles.

  Because the best way to learn science… is to do science.

The Science Behind the Blast-Off

The fizzing tablets contain citric acid and sodium hydrogen carbonate (bicarbonate of soda).

When they dissolve in water, they react to produce carbon dioxide gas.

Because the gas cannot escape, the pressure inside the tube increases.

Eventually, the force pushing on the lid becomes greater than the friction holding it in place…

POP!

The lid launches into the air carrying your Bugstronaut with it.

Children explore:

Chemical Reactions
Gas Pressure
Forces and Motion
Variables and Fair Testing
Data Handling and Interpretation
Scientific Enquiry Skills

Bugstronaut Craft Zone

Before launch, children can personalise their rockets by decorating the tubes with stickers, drawings, colours, and mission logos.

Can you design your own space programme and give your rocket a mission name?

Because every great astronaut needs a great spacecraft!

Why Teachers Love It

Fully curriculum-linked STEM activity

Encourages scientific enquiry and investigative skills

Minimal preparation required

Highly reusable and cost-effective

Perfect for:

• Science lessons
• STEM clubs
• Science Week activities
• After-school clubs
• Transition programmes
• Family learning events

Suitable for ages 7–14 years.

Why Event Organisers Love It

• Huge WOW factor
• Brilliant make-and-take activity
• Children decorate and personalise their own rockets
• Easy to run with large groups
• Creates excitement and anticipation with every launch

Perfect for:

Science Festivals
Libraries
Holiday Clubs
Family Fun Days
Museums
Community Events
Birthday Parties

You’ll Also Need

• Water
• Paper towels (if working indoors)
• Safety glasses or goggles (recommended)

Mission Safety Checklist

Wear safety glasses if available.

Always launch in a large, open space.

Point rockets away from people, pets, walls, and windows.

For maximum height, launch vertically.

For maximum distance, investigate different launch angles—around 45° often gives the greatest range.

Collect all Bugstronauts after launch and wipe up any spills.

Curriculum Links

KS2/KS3 Science

• Forces and Motion
• Reversible and Irreversible Changes
• Working Scientifically
• Planning Investigations
• Measuring and Recording
• Identifying Patterns
• Drawing Conclusions

Bonus Challenge Included!

Mission 4 – Does Launcher Length Matter?

The six tablet storage tubes included in your kit are longer than the standard launch tubes…

Could they become Deep Space Launchers?

Challenge your young scientists to investigate:

Does a longer launcher make the Bugstronaut fly higher?

Does it take longer to launch?

Does the extra space inside the tube affect the pressure build-up?

Children will:

Make predictions

Design fair tests

Collect and analyse data

Discover that engineers often need to test their ideas before knowing the answer.

This open-ended investigation introduces children to a fascinating scientific idea:

The size of a container can affect how quickly pressure builds up inside it.

Because sometimes in science…

bigger isn’t always better!

Then add a little call-out box:

Teacher Tip: Don’t throw away the tablet tubes! They can become bonus launchers for an extra STEM challenge.

More Than a Rocket Kit…

Bug Blaster combines:

Chemistry
Engineering
Physics
Mathematics
Creativity
Problem Solving

Children don’t simply launch rockets…

They become scientists on a mission to get Fizzbit safely home.

Because the best way to learn science… is to do science.

– Scientific Sue 

Sparks of imagination are at the heart of creativity!

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