The Rocket Challenge
Teaching Hub
Let’s get you ready for mission success!
Here you’ll find everything you need to help you prepare for the Rocket Challenge, including all of your printable and downloadable resources.
Work through the checklists below to make sure you’re ready for your STEM space adventure. You’ll need to tick off everything in the list before the challenge blasts off.
Get started here
Teacher prep
- Complete teacher training
- Read the challenge guide and check out the Student Hub
- Meet up with your ambassador to plan lessons
- Agree who will assemble the rocket launcher
- Complete the pre-challenge surveys
Ambassador prep
- Complete ambassador training
- Order your free t-shirt using code RCTEE2026
- Read the challenge guide and check out the Student Hub
- Plan your visits with your kaiako
- Prepare your career presentation
Challenge guide
Pānui the challenge guide for the challenge overview, curriculum links, lesson sequences, resource lists, activity notes and guidance on the ambassador's role.
Key concepts
Read the key concepts document for detailed notes on Rocket Challenge learning concepts.
Student Mission Briefs booklet
Download and print a workbook of all ākonga activities (print A3, double-sided, flip on short edge).
Student Hub
Access the content your ākonga should work through. Display this on a big screen in class, or let ākonga scroll on their own devices.
Challenge training
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 the important information you’ll need to know before you work with ākonga on the challenge.
Online Q&A session (kaiako and ambassadors)
Join our team online for a challenge overview and to ask any pātai.
Run time: 30–60 minutes
Dates:
Extra resources
Rocket launcher assembly instructions
Watch these video instructions to help you put together your rocket launcher. Make sure it’s done 24 hours before use.
Health and safety guidance
Learn everything you need to know to keep you and ākonga safe in the classroom.
Wonder Project Facebook group
Join this support forum for ambassadors and kaiako to access advice and tips from fellow Wonder Project participants across the country.
Sticker progress chart
Track progress in English or te reo Māori as ākonga work through the modules.
Posters
Print and display these posters in English or te reo Māori as you work through the challenge.
Participation certificate
Certificate in English or te reo Māori to celebrate ākonga participation and mark the end of the challenge.
Information for caregivers
Print out a copy for ākonga to take home to their whānau.
Assessment resources
Assess your ākonga on their learning during the Rocket Challenge.
Learning quiz
Get ākonga to participate in this quiz as a fun way to recap their challenge learning.
Ambassador badge
Our volunteer Wonder Project Ambassadors can display this digital badge proudly on their email signature or business card.
Career presentation template
Download our ambassador presentation template to use for telling your career story in Module 1.
Information for online ambassadors
Get tips and tricks on how to tackle the challenge as an online ambassador.
Need help sourcing additional resources?
In the challenge guide, there’s a list of a few additional resources you’ll need to source to complete some of the activities including bike pumps and measuring cups. We want to ensure that the Rocket Challenge is accessible to all schools across Aotearoa. So, if you need help sourcing these resources or printing ākonga activity sheets, we are happy to help. Please reach out to us and let us know what you need.
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 the challenge starts
Student pre challenge survey
All ākonga should complete the student pre-challenge survey before they begin the challenge.
Teacher pre challenge survey
Each participating kaiako should complete the teacher pre-challenge survey before they begin the challenge.
After the final module
Student post challenge survey
All ākonga should complete the student post challenge survey after they complete the challenge.
Teacher post challenge survey
Each participating kaiako should complete the teacher post challenge survey after they complete the challenge.
Ambassador post challenge survey
Each participating ambassador should complete the ambassador post challenge survey after they complete the challenge.