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Indoor activity

Miniature Popsicle Stick Catapult

Build your own working medieval siege engine using craft sticks and rubber bands, then launch cotton wool boulders!

Ages 5-12 0-1 hours Education 8/10

Materials

  • Cotton Wool
  • Plastic Spoon
  • Popsicle Sticks
  • Rubber Bands

Illustrated Steps

1

Create the Base Stack

Stack 5 popsicle sticks and band both ends tightly.

2

Build the Launcher Arm

Join 2 sticks at one end, and slide the base stack between them.

3

Secure the Arm

Criss-cross a rubber band to lock the sticks together.

4

Attach the Bucket

Rubber band the spoon to the top stick to finish the catapult.

What You’ll Create

Channel your inner medieval engineer and build a powerful Miniature Popsicle Stick Catapult! Using basic tension and leverage from rubber bands, you’ll transform simple popsicle sticks and a plastic spoon into an impressive launcher capable of sending soft cotton wool ‘boulders’ soaring across the living room.

Have fun!

  • 🏰 Build a tower out of plastic cups and try to knock it down.
  • 🎯 Place a bowl across the room and practice your target shooting.
  • 📏 Measure how far different soft objects fly (cotton wool vs marshmallows).
  • 🎨 Paint or decorate your sticks before building to customize your siege engine.

Why It’s Amazing

  • Engineering & Physics: Hands-on experience with potential energy, tension, and levers. ⚙️
  • Fine Motor Control: Stretching and wrapping tight rubber bands builds finger strength and dexterity. 💪
  • Scientific Method: Kids naturally experiment with angles and force to improve their launch distance. 🔬

Pro Tips

For ages 5-8: Kids may need an adult’s help wrapping the rubber bands tight enough. Let them take charge of the testing phase!

For ages 8-12: Challenge them to build a larger version with more sticks in the base stack. Does a taller fulcrum launch things further?