4M KidzLabs Volcano Making Kit, DIY Science Kit STEM, For Boys & Girls Ages 8+

The rocket is a fun activity for sure. The assembly was very easy and the operation is very simple. I don’t have a hand pump so I used a batter operated one and it works really fast! It would be great for a science project, learning about the pressures, water levels, and bottle sizes. How they correspond to height of the bottle on launch. It’s a good transition into model rockets too.Recommend for sure, but if you are really going to use differing equipment, it might be a good idea to get a longer tube for the air. You can pick them up from any hardware store. Electric pump with digital pressure or preset limit would be best for more precise experiments.

The kids love it. Having fun trying different bottles beside the one included. Just guessing I believe they have launched it 60 ft high or more so far. I think it will last longer than their attention spans, or their dinky bicycle pump.

I've had this for about 7 years now and every time we've gotten it out for friends and family, it's always a hit. I ended up plumbing an old bike pump right into it and it works great. All the kids stand around and either take turns pumping or (eventually) ask me to. You never know when it's going to blast off, but when it does, they all go running after it giggling the whole time. I've picked bottles out of trees, off the roof, lost them in the long grass, had to look on the neighbor's lawn...all of it is part of the fun!

This was a gift for our 8 year old grandson and the first time he set it off he was thrilled but the rubber coating on the plug had started to peel and wasn't getting a good seal so we ordered solid rubber plugs of the same size and it worked tremendously. Keep in mind we also had to buy the tire pump as it does not come with it. The bottle with the kit is good and sturdy and should last for many launches. But it does spray water on launch so be prepared to get damp.

This was a lot of fun even though I only got to use it a couple times. Very easy to use. It goes pretty high. I would recommend doing it in the park though or open space rather than in the neighborhood lol some kids find it very fun other kids don't like putting into work because technology nowadays 🙄 but if you got a bike anyways there are automatic battery air pumps so that might be even more fun for kids because it's pure enjoyment versus any work

I give this only 3 stars because it requires a bicycle air pump or other air source, so the kit is not self contained in that regard.

Very fun for all ages - adults liked playing with it as much as the kids. Works great. "A good time that was had by all".Comes with- 2 rubber cork plugs- 2 sets of 3 fins (and a spare fin for each set, tho they seem pretty durable, no breaks yet)- 2 plastic air tubes to connect tire pump to rubber cork in water bottle.- 4 small plastic connectors for connecting tire pump to the rubber cork via clear plastic tube(basically, one connector thru rubber cork, connect clear tube, another connector for bike pump; 2 sets)Minimal assembly:Insert tire pump connector thru the rubber cork provided so it sticks out thru wider part of rubber cork (only goes 1 way, cant mess it up)Connect clear plastic tube to connector on rubber cork, and insert other small connector into the other end of the clear tube to connect to tire pump (basically, 1 connector for each end of clear tube).Fill water bottle 1/3 full with water.Press the rubber cork into bottom of bottle. Press HARD.The harder you press it in, the more pressure is needed to pop it out and the higher it will go.Stand rocket up on fins as its launch pad.Start pumping the bike tire pump until the cork pops out and the rocket launches.(While reading about these bottle rockets, I could never figure out what the release mechanism was to actually launch the rocket - turns out its a function of how tightly you insert the rubber cork, thats it).We were launching 200-300 feet in the air once we figured out we just need to push the rubber cork in harder.While you can use any 1 liter bottle, I prefer the Seagrams Tonic 1 liter bottle - cuz then I have an excuse to make Gin & Tonics too! However, the Polar brand Tonic bottle is more streamlined, looks more like a rocket.And you can cut the top off another bottle to attach it on top of the main engine bottle for a bigger rocket, and a more streamlined look. (pointed nose vs flat bottom of main bottle on top) Google around and you will see examples.