![]() Then, from a set distance, students will launch their cotton balls. Teams will have 2 test runs to determine launching distance. The bowl will be in a set location (works well on the floor). Station 1 - Accuracy Cotton balls and a bowl make-up this station. Once students have built their catapults, it is time to launch! These three stations can be adapted to your space, but make sure students record results as they go. Encourage students to think outside the box with the supplies provided! Testing Stations I demonstrated how to make a simple coke and rubber band catapult and pointed out the main features. I kept it simple by making all supplies available, and I did not have any issues. Once you introduce the various supplies, I found it important to give a couple of examples. You can make all materials available to students or incorporate budgeting by adding a price tag to each supply. I decided to have the following available during the project: To determine a materials list, I researched several ways to build a catapult as well as experimented at home. I really like this PBS resource on using the engineering design process for STEM challenges. Great resources include: TeachEngineering, Science Behind Catapults, and Pumpkin Chunkin Video. I also encourage reviewing the engineering design process and stressing the importance of testing. Discuss what are the basic features of a catapult. The best way to set-up the activity is to show pictures and videos of various catapult designs. ![]() Ensure students have a key design difference between the two such as a different base, launcher, or axle. Working in teams, students brainstorm ideas, select the top two designs, and complete three tests to determine the winning design. I have tried several versions of this challenge with my middle school students, and I believe the most successful activity is to have students build two catapults. Each catapult will undergo three different tests to determine accuracy and power.
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