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DIY Cardboard Rocket Ship Nightlight Craft Activity for Kids

January 11, 2025 Kylie Tuosto
Rocketship nightlight craft activity ideas for kids

Blast off into fun and creativity with this glow-in-the-dark craft that doubles as a nightlight and imaginative play prop! Perfect for little astronauts in training.

Materials Needed

  • 2 11” x 17” pieces of cardboard

  • Metal Ruler

  • Scissors or a utility knife

  • Hot glue gun and glue sticks

  • 2-inch circle template (or any circular object to trace)

  • Rocket ship wing and nose cone templates (downloadable on our site)

  • Blue and teal ribbon

  • Sparkly star patches

  • Small LED lights (battery-operated)

  • Push-button light (battery-operated)

  • Markers, paint, or other decorations (optional)

Download the blueprint
Rocket ship for kids craft instructions guide template

Overview of Learning Objectives by Age Group

  • Age 0-6mo: Sensory exploration of lights and colors.

  • Age 6mo-12mo: Practice fine motor skills by pushing buttons or exploring textures.

  • Age 12mo-2yr: Encourage imaginative play by interacting with the glowing rocket ship.

  • Age 3yr-4yr: Develop creativity and storytelling skills with space-themed adventures.

  • Age 4yr-6yr: Foster problem-solving and engineering skills while building and customizing the rocket.


Download & Print Templates
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IMG_7552_jpg.JPG

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare the Cardboard Base:

  • Cut out a 12” x 17” rectangular piece of cardboard.

  • Using a ruler, score the cardboard every 2 ½ inches lengthwise, leaving a ¼-inch strip at one end. These score lines will make folding easier.

Shape the Rocket Body:

  • Carefully fold along the score lines to form a hexagon shape.

  • Use the ¼-inch remaining strip to overlap and glue the seam closed. Hold until the glue sets.

Create the Rocket Windows:

  • On one side of the hexagon, trace and cut out three 2-inch circular holes. These will be the “windows” for your rocket.

Add the Wings and Nose Cone:

  • Using the provided templates, cut out two wings and one nose cone from cardboard.

  • Attach the wings to opposite sides of the rocket base using hot glue.

  • Roll the nose cone into a pointy shape and secure it with glue. Attach it to the top of the rocket.

Decorate the Rocket:

  • Wrap blue and teal ribbon around the body of the rocket for a sleek, space-age look.

  • Hot glue sparkly star patches to small LED lights and push the lights through the wings, creating a magical, glowing effect.

Add the Nightlight:

  • Inside the rocket, place a push-button light. This will serve as the main nightlight to illuminate the windows.

Personalize (Optional):

  • Let your kids paint or decorate the rocket however they like—think space stickers, metallic markers, or even glitter.

Printable Template

Benefits of KIDS CRAFTS

This craft combines hands-on building with imaginative play. Kids develop fine motor skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities as they design, decorate, and play with their rocket ship. The glow-in-the-dark feature also provides a soothing nightlight, fostering independence during bedtime routines.

25 ROCKETSHIP Vocabulary WORDS

  1. 1. Rocket

  2. 2. Space

  3. 3. Astronaut

  4. 4. Launch

  5. 5. Moon

  6. 6. Star

  7. 7. Orbit

  8. 8. Galaxy

  9. 9. Solar system

  10. 10. Comet

  11. 11. Meteor

  12. 12. Gravity

  13. 13. Planet

  14. 14. Spaceship

  15. 15. Light

  16. 16. Shine

  17. 17. Explore

  18. 18. Adventure

  19. 19. Constellation

  20. 20. Cosmos

  21. 21. Satellite

  22. 22. Engineer

  23. 23. Astronomer

  24. 24. Nebula

  25. 25. Universe

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Uses for the Rocket Ship Nightlight

  1. Nightlight: Keep the rocket on a bedside table for a comforting glow at night.

  2. Imaginative Play: Fuel your child’s creativity with space-themed pretend play.

  3. Room Decor: A fun and functional addition to a space-themed bedroom.

  4. Learning Tool: Use the rocket as a prop for teaching about space and STEM concepts.

Blast off into creativity with this fun craft! Whether your little one dreams of being an astronaut or just loves glowing nightlights, this DIY rocket ship is sure to be a hit.

Let us know how your rocket turned out by tagging us on Instagram with #DIYRocketNightlight! Happy crafting!

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Free Printable Activities

Check out our free printable library of resources. From activity books, dramatic play kits, memory games, flashcards and more, you can try the entire goodnightFox collection free.

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