Plan
- Do you want to do this adventure inside, outside or at camp?
- What do you know about catapults? How does a catapult work?
- What materials will you use to build your catapult?
- How big will your catapults be?
- How will you decide which catapult design is best?
- Where will you set up a testing area for your catapults?
- What will you use for targets?
Do
- Collect all of the materials you want to use.
- Explore your materials, and build a few prototypes.
- Which works best?
- How can you change the distance your projectile travels?
- How can you change how well it aims?
- How many targets can you hit?
Review
- What do you know now that you did not know before?
- What decisions did you make while building your catapult?
- What designs worked the best? How did you decide which designs were the best?
- Where do you see similar machines in everyday life?
- What did you like about this adventure?
- What did you not like? How would you do this adventure differently?
- What elements of STEM did you use in this adventure? Science? Technology? Engineering? Mathematics?
Materials
- Craft sticks
- Plastic spoons
- Wooden clothespins
- Bottle caps
- Rubber bands
- Any other materials for your catapult
- Wood glue
- Tape
- Projectiles (e.g. ping pong balls, pompoms or mini marshmallows
- Targets (e.g. plastic bowls or card houses)
Keep it Simple
- Try making a clothespin racecar!
Take it Further
- What can you build using your pioneering skills?
