Make a toilet roll rocket

What can I use if I don't have sticky tack, clay, or a plastic straw?

If you don't have clay or sticky tack for nose weight, use a small coin or a wad of aluminum foil taped inside the paper cone, and if you don't have a straw make a launch tube by tightly rolling and taping a strip of paper so you can slide the open end of the rocket onto it.

My rocket keeps wobbling or won't launch smoothly—what should I try?

If it wobbles, ensure the three or four fins are taped evenly and straight around the open end, try bending or trimming a fin and moving the clay inside the cone for balance, and if it won't slide onto the straw trim the straw end or slightly widen the tube opening so you can blow a sharp puff into the straw to launch your rocket smoothly.

How can I adapt this activity for younger or older kids?

For younger children, pre-cut the cone and fin shapes and let them decorate the outside of the tube and stick pieces on with tape while an adult handles scissors and the straw launch, and for older kids have them use the pencil and ruler to mark fin spacing, test different nose weights, and measure how far your rocket flew after each change.

How can we extend or personalize the toilet roll rocket for more experiments or display?

To extend the activity, decorate and name each toilet roll rocket, record how changes like moving the clay or trimming/bending a fin affect distance when you measure how far your rocket flew, build a cardboard launch stand for consistent launches, or attach a small paper parachute or streamer to change landing behavior.