The Rocket Challenge
Teaching hub
Kia ora! We're currently updating the online Learning Hub based on your feedback. We will send you the link to the updated hub before the challenge blasts off in 2024.
If you're doing the Rocket Challenge again in 2024 and haven't registered yet, please make sure you do so by following the link on our main site – selecting 'No' when asked if you need a kit. This will make sure you receive the new and improved online Learning Hub, ākonga content and lesson plans. If anything in your kit needs topping up, we'll have refresh packs available on our online shop.
Get your blast off competition entry in!
Bring your Rocket Challenge story to life by creating an epic video or poster for the final blast-off competition.
The prize
All schools that enter will go in the draw to win one of two LEGO sets!
First place
- space mission set (1700 pieces)
- lots of bricks set (1000 pieces)
- bricks and wheels set (653 pieces)
- build together set (1601 pieces)
- 2x baseplates
Runner-up
- space mission set (1700 pieces)
- lots of bricks set (1000 pieces)
- 2x baseplates
Entries are due by 7 August
Send a copy of your video or poster to the Wonder Project Community Facebook Group, or to wonder@engineeringnz.org.
Pre-challenge checklist
Prep for both teachers and ambassadors
- Complete your Rocket Challenge training
- Meet up with your match to plan lessons
- Agree who will assemble the rocket launcher
- Familiarise yourself with the Student Hub
- Read the teaching guide
- Read the health and safety guidance
- Start collecting resources for the challenge
- Join the Wonder Project Facebook group
Teacher-specific prep
- Complete the teacher pre-challenge survey
- Ask students to complete the student pre-challenge survey
- Share the parent information sheet
- Check the rocket kit has arrived at school
Ambassador-specific prep
- Prepare your career presentation
- Order your free Wonder Project t-shirt
Scroll down to get started!
You'll find everything you need to run the challenge successfully on this page.
Complete teacher training
A series of fun videos that cover all the important information you’ll need to know before you get started on the challenge.
Complete ambassador training
A series of fun videos that cover all of the important information you’ll need to know before you work with students on the challenge.
Additional training
options
In-person workshop (ambassadors only)
Our in-person workshops offer a more in-depth overview of the Rocket Challenge with a presentation covering challenge content, challenge logistics, your role in the challenge as well as some hands-on activities.
Run time: 2 hours
Online Q&A (teachers and ambassadors)
In our casual Q&A sessions, you’ll join our Wonder Team online via Microsoft Teams to ask any questions you have about the Rocket Challenge.
Run time: 30–60 minutes
Dates:
- Tuesday 26 March, 3.30pm > register
Prep for both teachers and ambassadors
Meet up and plan lessons
Get in touch with your match and arrange a time to plan lessons and visit times. We ask ambassadors to commit to at least three class visits at a minimum, and up to one hour a week.
Assemble your rocket launcher
Agree with your match who will assemble the rocket launcher. Make sure it’s done 24 hours before use. Watch our handy video for step-by-step instructions.
Get familiar with the Student Hub
The Student Hub has all the content your class will work through to complete the challenge. Check it out before you start, to get familiar with the learning content.
Read the teaching guide
The teaching guide covers lesson plans, timings, resource overviews and challenge roles. For more detailed information on activities, key concepts and for achievement objectives, read the support notes.
Read the health and safety guidance
The health and safety guidance covers everything you need to know to keep you and students safe in the classroom.
Start collecting challenge resources
You’ll need to collect a few extra resources before you get started on the challenge. Please refer to page 5 of the support notes for a full list of resources to collect. Let us know if you need help sourcing any of these items.
Join the Facebook group
Join the Wonder Project Community on Facebook to access advice from fellow teachers and ambassadors across the country.
Prep for teachers
Complete teacher pre-challenge survey
Each participating teacher should complete the teacher pre-challenge survey before they begin the challenge.
Share student pre-challenge survey
Each participating student should complete the student pre-challenge survey before they begin the challenge.
Share parent information sheet
Print off this information sheet for students to take home to their parents.
Check your rocket kit has arrived
Your rocket kit will be winging its way to your school in time for the start of Term. You will receive a tracking email once it’s been sent.
Prep for ambassadors
Prepare career presentation
Get ready to inspire students with your STEM role by getting started on your career presentation for week one. It should be around 5 minutes.
Order your Wonder Project tee
To get your free tee, jump onto the online store and add the t-shirt of your choice to your cart. Then use code RCTEE2023 to remove all costs. You should wear the tee on your Wonder Project visits.
Printable and downloadable resources
Scroll down to find all of the printable and downloadable resources you need to run the challenge successfully.
Student resources
Student Mission Briefs booklet
Download and print a workbook of all the student activities in English for modules 1–6 (print A3, double-sided, flip on short edge).
Student Mission Briefs (PDF, 1.5 MB)Ngā Tohutohu ā-Whāinga mā te Ākonga
Download and print a workbook of all the student activities in te reo for modules 1–6 (print A3, double-sided, flip on short edge).
Ngā Tohutohu ā-Whāinga mā te Ākonga (PDF, 1.6 MB)Sticker progress chart
Track students’ progress as they work through the modules.
Sticker chart (PDF, 115.5 KB)Poster: Engineering design process
Poster on the engineering design process – four steps engineers use to solve a problem.
Engineering design process (PDF, 313.6 KB)Poster: Health and safety rules
Summarises the 10 health and safety rules of the Rocket Challenge.
Health and safety rules (PDF, 230.8 KB)Poster: Newton’s laws
Summarises Newton’s three laws of motion with Kiwiana examples.
Newton’s laws (PDF, 468.7 KB)Student participation certificate
Distribute to each student to celebrate and mark the end of the challenge.
Participation certificate (PDF, 225.4 KB)Teaching resources
Teaching guide
Download and print the lesson guides and preparation one pagers for Modules 1–6 to help you teach the Rocket Challenge.
Teaching guide (PDF, 234.1 KB)Support notes
Download and print the detailed support notes on Rocket Challenge activities and key concepts.
Support notes (PDF, 3.3 MB)Ambassador presentation template
Download our ambassador presentation template to use for telling your career story in Module 1.
Presentation template (POTX, 29.8 MB)Information and flyers
Overview of the programme
Summarises what students will learn during the Rocket Challenge
Programme overview (PDF, 1.3 MB)Information for parents
Print out a copy for each student to take home to their whānau.
Take home information (PDF, 885.0 KB)Information for online ambassadors
A quick summary on how to tackle the challenge as an online ambassador.
Online ambassador information (PDF, 135.0 KB)Rocket launcher online instruction manual
Online instruction manual to help you put together your rocket launcher.
Launcher instruction manual (PDF, 699.9 KB)Impact surveys
Make sure you complete our pre and post challenge surveys. These are an important tool for us to improve the programme each year and continue our funding to keep the Wonder Project free for schools.
Before you start the challenge
In the final module
Student Hub
Access the content your class should work through to complete the challenge.