Rocket Tag Rules - Maker Lab Kids

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The Challenge: One team launches a "mystery shot" - the other team tries to match it using only the landing spot as a clue!

What Each Team Knows

Angle - HIDDEN

✅ Distance - VISIBLE

Pressure - HIDDEN

✅ Direction - VISIBLE

Setup

Two teams with identical launchers
Both teams launch from the same spot
Markers/flags to mark landing spots
Measuring tape for final scoring
Screen or barrier so teams can't see each other's settings

Round Flow

Team A

Sets secret angle
& pressure

→

Team A

Launches
(Team B looks away)

→

Mark

Landing
spot

→

Team B

Sees only
the marker

→

Team B

Tries to
match it!

How to Play

Team A secretly sets their angle and pressure
Team B turns away (no peeking at settings!)
Team A launches - mark where it lands
Team B now sees ONLY the landing marker
Team B must figure out settings to match the shot
Team B launches - mark their landing
Measure the gap between the two landings
Switch roles - Team B sets the mystery shot
Smallest total gap after all rounds wins!

Scoring

Measure distance between the two landing spots
Each team's "tag" attempt gets a gap score
Play 3-5 rounds, alternating who sets the mystery shot
Lowest total gap wins!
Perfect Match Bonus: Landing within 3 feet = -10 from score

Strategy: Use physics intuition! A far landing could be high angle + low pressure OR low angle + high pressure. Watch the arc in the air for clues. The challenge is reverse-engineering the settings from just the result!