Diy squirrel catapult3/8/2024 ![]() Next, stack 2 craft sticks on top of each other and secure one end with a rubber band.(We used some of the colorful loom bands that seem to be everywhere in our kitchen.) This will be your crossbar. Stack 5 craft sticks on top of each other and secure both ends with a rubber band.To make future STEM projects at home easy, keep these most often used STEM supplies on hand. Plastic Spoons (stronger spoons, like these, work best).This is one kids STEM activity you will want to try!įor another craft stick STEM activity, try making your own balancing craft stick toy. Make your own craft stick catapults and let your child’s imagination soar. Whether you are looking for a rainy day activity, awesome camp craft to do with scouts, or just something fun to do with your kids, this STEM activity is sure to be a hit. He is SO excited about it and spent forever shooting balls across the yard! I love repeating favorite projects again with my younger kids.Kids love building things, and when you add in the chance to fling a bit of candy? We are talking an instant hit! I am now repeating it with my third child. ![]() We built this catapult years ago and I figured it was due for some updated pictures, but I had to retain a piece of history on the site by keeping this good old original picture! This older picture was with my oldest son. (And you don’t have to tell them how easy it was!) It is seriously so much fun! Put a small ball, such as a ping pong ball, into the cup, pull back and let it fly!!! You have now finished building a catapult. The cup and rubber bands together create a type of throwing arm. If your rubber bands are not long enough (mine were not) tie on three more runner bands to the ends so they can stretch all of the way down the dowels. You’ll need some bigger rubber bands to make this work. The other ends of the rubber bands need to be tied to the top part of the catapult, and two bottom corners. ![]() Next, take your plastic cup and punch three holes in it- evenly spaced around the top of the cup.Ĭut three rubber bands in half and tie them through the holes in the cup. Then connect them with a rubber band in the center on top. Add one at a time going upward from each corner of the first triangle. Then the next three dowels you also attach as a triangle, but standing up like a tepee or a pyramid. Use three of the wooden dowels and make them into a triangle by attaching the corners with rubber bands. Let’s start with building the catapult frame, or the base of the catapult. Small balls, balls of paper, pom poms, or jumbo marshmallows to launch (No glue guns required for this one!) Supplies to Build a Catapult:Ħ wooden dowels (ours are 3 ft long) You can get these at Walmart, the craft store or the hardware store. I promise you when I say this is an easy project! With just looking at a picture, I’d bet you most kids (upper elementary on up) could easily make this. This type of catapult we are making is closest to a Ballista catapult. History: Catapults have been around for thousands of years! There is so much cool history you could delve into here. You could change the weight and size of the ball you use to catapult and test to see if it goes a different distance or height. When the energy is released and you launch a projectile, it is now kinetic energy. When you pull back the cup you are creating potential energy. ![]() You can teach about kinetic energy (energy of motion) and potential energy (stored energy) with the process of pulling back and releasing. Science: This is awesome for a physics lesson on Newton’s laws of motion. Teaching kids how catapults work along with just how to build it is important to make the STEM connections in this activity.Įngineering: You are learning how to build a catapult that will stay together and work well. But, this one way cooler than those little popsicle stick catapults you have probably seen before! This project is great for older kids and younger kids alike.Ī building a catapult is an awesome STEM activity because kids are learning so many things! Catapult Learning Connections: DIY Catapults are a classic STEM activity. Making this homemade catapult is really quite easy and is a fun activity for kids of all ages! I can’t wait to show you. Have you always wanted to learn how to build a catapult? Yes? I thought so… me, too.
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