Rocket Academy Station Guide Session 1 of 3 Outdoor STEM & Gross Motor
Rocket Launch Academy
Total Run Time
50 Minutes
STEM Big Ideas
Propulsion & Force: Rockets require thrust to escape Earth's gravity. Cadets discover how harder stomps push rockets higher, and how heavy cargo requires stronger muscle force to move.
Heavy Work
Proprioceptive inputs: bilateral carrying of weighted water jugs, explosive stomping , and quadruped bear crawls .
Flight Plan Schedule (50 Min) Outdoor Playground / Field
00–08 MIN Astronaut Warm-Up
08–35 MIN 3 Rotating Stations
35–42 MIN Blast-Off Sprint Break
42–50 MIN Cool-Down Debrief
Station 1: Heavy Rocket Fuel Haul
Mission Task: Move the Fuel Pods to the Launchpad
Fill 1-gallon plastic milk jugs with varying amounts of sand/water (light = 1/4 full, medium = 1/2 full, booster fuel = full). Cadets transport fuel canisters from the "Supply Depot" across 20 feet of grass to the rocket fueling bay.
Facilitator Guiding Questions:
"Which fuel jug makes your arm and tummy muscles work harder?"
"Does the full jug make your feet stomp louder into the grass?"
"What happens if two cadets carry the heavy booster tank together?"
Materials Needed
6–8 weighted jugs
2 laundry baskets
Chalk or orange cones
💪 Heavy Work: Deep proprioception via farmer carry & squat lifts.
Cosmic Movers Preschool STEM Sequence • Session 1 Page 1 of 2
Station 2: Stomp & Soar Air Propulsion
Mission Task: Blast Off with Muscle Force
Use commercial stomp rockets or empty 2-liter soda bottles fitted with flexible vinyl tubing and foam tube rockets. Cadets jump with two feet onto the stomp pad to compress trapped air and launch rockets toward cloud targets hung on a fence.
STEM Exploration:
Compare a gentle one-foot tap vs a two-foot jumping slam. Have cadets observe: Air is invisible matter inside the bottle. Fast compression pushes the rocket!
Materials Needed
Stomp rocket kit
Chalk launch ring
Cardboard cloud targets
🦘 Gross Motor: Explosive bilateral jumping & landing stability.
Station 3: Orbital Agility Obstacle Course
Mission Task: Orbit the Planets
Create a circuit of hula-hoops ("Craters"), rope lines ("Orbit Rings"), and pool noodle hurdles. Cadets bear-crawl under low noodle barriers, hop two-footed from crater to crater, and roll a heavy medicine ball/soccer ball around the "Sun" cone.
Movement Cue:
"Keep your astronaut helmet (head) steady while bear crawling! Push the playground ground with your strong palms!"
Materials Needed
4–6 hula hoops
Cones & pool noodles
1 weighted 2-4 lb ball
🐾 Heavy Work: Quadruped crawl weight-bearing & core activation.
Whole-Group Game: "10-Second Countdown Thrusters" (35–42 Min)
1. The Ignition Squat: All cadets crouch low into tight rocket pods. Count backwards together: "10, 9, 8... 3, 2, 1, BLAST OFF!" Cadets explode straight up into star jumps.
2. Zero-Gravity Slow Orbit: When the leader yells "In Orbit!" , cadets walk in slow-motion, moving arms as if floating in space to regulate heart rates.
Cool-Down (42–50 Min): Circle seated on grass. Pass a smooth "meteor stone" while cadets share their favorite launch force.
Cosmic Movers Preschool STEM Sequence • Session 1 Page 2 of 2
Rocket Cadet Mission Board Outdoor Space Cadet
Rocket Launch Mission Board
Cadet Name:
Date:
🚀 Complete each outdoor heavy mission! Get a stamp or sticker from Mission Control at each station.
Station 1
Heavy Fuel Hauler
Carry the heavy water jugs across the field to fuel the rocket!
Stamp / Sticker
Station 2
Stomp Blast-Off
Jump with two feet onto the launch pad to shoot rockets into the sky!
Stamp / Sticker
Station 3
Orbit Bear Crawl
Bear crawl around the planet cones and roll the heavy asteroid!
Stamp / Sticker
Cadet STEM Question: Which Stomp Flew Higher?
Circle the jump force that pushed the rocket the highest:
👟
Gentle Toe Tap
Low Rocket Flight
💥
Giant 2-Foot Stomp
Super High Blast-Off!
Official Rocket Launch Mission Patch
Draw your rocket or star here!
Cosmic Movers Mission Board • Session 1: Rocket Launch Mission Certified
Lunar Rover Station Guide Session 2 of 3 Outdoor STEM & Gross Motor
Lunar Rover Crew
Total Run Time
50 Minutes
STEM Big Ideas
Friction, Incline & Weight: Wheels roll easily on smooth paths but encounter high resistance on thick grass or bumpy mulch. Steeper ramps send rovers speeding farther into crater basins.
Heavy Work
Proprioceptive inputs: full-body wagon pulling against friction, lifting dense stones , and weighted jumping .
Expedition Flight Plan (50 Min) Outdoor Playground / Grass & Pavement
00–08 MIN Rover Pilot Briefing
08–35 MIN 3 Rotating Stations
35–42 MIN Meteor Shower Freeze
42–50 MIN Rock Log & Cool-Down
Station 1: Heavy Boulder Wagon Haul
Mission Task: Haul Moon Boulders Across Varying Terrain
Equip sturdy wagons or plastic snow sleds with handles. Cadets load real smooth river stones, landscaping pavers, or sandbag "moon boulders" into the rover wagon. They pull their loaded rover along a course marked on both flat pavement and tall grass.
Facilitator Guiding Questions:
"Does the wagon feel heavier when pulling on grass or on smooth sidewalk?"
"How do your leg muscles push into the ground when the wagon is full?"
"Can two rover pilots pull together like a team of astronaut sled dogs?"
Materials Needed
2 wagons or heavy sleds
10–12 large smooth rocks
Chalk lane lines
🚜 Heavy Work: High-resistance traction pulling & lumbar core engagement.
Cosmic Movers Preschool STEM Sequence • Session 2 Page 1 of 2
Station 2: Crater Ramp & Incline Speed Trials
Mission Task: Build & Test Downhill Slopes
Prop wooden planks or plastic gutter segments onto overturned milk crates or log rounds. Cadets test toy rovers, tennis balls, and heavy pinecones down low ramps vs high steep ramps. They observe how gravity speeds rovers into chalk landing targets.
STEM Exploration:
Stacking more crates makes the ramp taller and steeper. Ask: "Did the rover roll faster or slower when we lifted the ramp high into the sky?"
Materials Needed
2–3 wide wood boards
4 sturdy milk crates
Toy trucks / rolling balls
📦 Heavy Work: Stacking heavy crates & lifting long wooden ramps.
Station 3: Low-Gravity Lunar Bounce & Balance
Lunar Rock Field Log Lunar Surface Mission
Rover Cadet Field Log
Pilot Name:
Date:
🌕 Drive your rover, pull heavy moon cargo, and collect all three station check stamps!
Station 1
Boulder Wagon Pull
Haul heavy moon rocks across grass and sidewalk!
Stamp / Sticker
Station 2
Crater Ramp Speed
Roll rovers down steep wooden ramps into sand craters!
Stamp / Sticker
Station 3
Low-Gravity Bounce
Hop along the crater stones wearing your astronaut pack!
Stamp / Sticker
1. Which Rock Felt Heavy?
Circle the rock that needed big muscle power:
🪨
Big Moon Boulder
✨
Tiny Pebble
2. Hardest to Pull?
Circle where the wagon was tough to pull:
🌿
Bumpy Grass
🛣️
Smooth Path
Official Lunar Rover Driver License
Draw yourself driving your rover!
Cosmic Movers Field Log • Session 2: Lunar Rover Mission Certified
Space Habitat Station Guide Session 3 of 3 Outdoor STEM & Gross Motor
Astronaut Base Builders
Total Run Time
50 Minutes
STEM Big Ideas
Structures, Stability & Tension: Astronauts need sturdy habitats to survive extreme temperatures and solar radiation. Cadets discover how wide, heavy foundations prevent walls from tipping over.
Heavy Work
Proprioceptive inputs: partner lifting of bulky crates, sandbag lugging , and isometric rope pulling .
Habitat Construction Timeline (50 Min) Outdoor Yard / Grass Area
00–08 MIN Architect Briefing
08–35 MIN 3 Rotating Stations
35–42 MIN Zero-G Parachute Wave
42–50 MIN Base Inspection
Station 1: Heavy Meteorite Masonry Wall
Mission Task: Build a Radiation Shield Wall
Cadets work individually or in pairs to lift and carry heavy plastic milk crates, large sturdy cardboard boxes (taped shut with bricks/sand inside), or interlocking foam blocks. They align blocks into a wide, sturdy wall perimeter that encloses the habitat zone.
Facilitator Guiding Questions:
"What happens if we stack 4 crates in a skinny tower vs a wide double row?"
"Feel how your arms and back work when lifting the crate together with a partner!"
"Can this wall resist a gentle 'space wind' test push?"
Materials Needed
8–12 plastic milk crates
Heavy cardboard blocks
Work gloves (optional)
🏗️ Heavy Work: Bilateral squat lifting & partner cooperative hauling.
Cosmic Movers Preschool STEM Sequence • Session 3 Page 1 of 2
Station 2: Solar Shield Canopy & Sandbag Anchors
Mission Task: Stretch & Anchor the Thermal Tarp
Astronauts pull a large blue or silver tarp over upright fence posts or low wooden frames. To secure the canopy against space gusts, cadets carry heavy 5-lb canvas sandbags or gravel jugs across the site and place them directly onto the tarp corners.
STEM Exploration:
Tension & Gravity: Pulling the tarp tight removes wrinkles and creates protective shade. Heavy sandbags provide downward gravity force to overcome wind lift.
Materials Needed
1 large durable tarp
4–6 canvas sandbags (5 lbs)
Bungee cords or clips
🏋️ Heavy Work: Two-hand sandbag hug carry & isometric pulling.
Station 3: Spacewalk Lifeline Relay
Habitat Cadet Inspection Card Habitat Engineering Crew
Base Inspector Checklist
Inspector:
Date:
🛠️ Test every station of the new space habitat and collect your three inspection stamps!
Station 1
Heavy Crate Wall
Stack heavy milk crates into a wide, sturdy wind-shield!
Stamp / Sticker
Station 2
Canopy Sandbags
Carry heavy sandbags to pin down the sun shade canopy!
Stamp / Sticker
Station 3
Lifeline Spacewalk
Balance on the rope tether while lugging heavy tool pails!
Stamp / Sticker
1. Which Wall is Sturdy?
Circle the wall that won't fall down in the wind:
🧱🧱
Wide Double Wall
🗼
Wobbly Skinny Tower
2. Kept the Tarp Safe?
Circle what pinned the canopy down:
🏋️
Heavy Sandbags
🍃
Light Dry Leaf
Master Space Architect Blueprint
Draw your finished outdoor space base!
Cosmic Movers Inspection Card • Session 3: Space Habitat Mission Certified
