Shannon Godar

Lesson Plan

Miniature Catapults

Introduction: Students will learn about catapults then design and build a miniature catapult that will launch a projectile. They will construct a catapult with the given materials with the goal of launching their projectile the farthest.

Standards: 9; Engineering Design, 11; Apply the Design Process, 20; Construction Technologies

Objectives: Students will learn a brief history of catapults along with basic construction of the machines. They should be able to use and describe the functions of their catapults.

Essential Questions: What is the purpose of a catapult? What makes a catapult work? The purpose of a catapult is to launch a projectile a great distance. Catapults can work many different ways, but an arm is necessary to launch the projectile. A strong base is also necessary to support the arm.

Assessment: Students must test their catapults by launching their ping-pong ball. They will be given 3 shots, and the best catapult will be the one that launched the given projectile the farthest within the 3 trials. Distance will be measured from the base of the catapult to where the ping-pong ball first touched the floor.

Material List: Popsicle sticks, 1 pack of 3” by 5” index cards, masking tape, scissors, rulers, rubber bands, several different pictures of catapults, and ping-pong balls, ping-pong ball sized rocks.

Lesson Content: A catapult is a device used to throw an object over a distance. Catapults were originally used in ancient and medieval warfare to attack a fortress or a city. They were used to hurl stones or flaming balls at an enemy. Many different catapults have been designed and used (Bahjat, A., 2001). As the students are constructing their catapults, they will be able to test and fix their machines to make them better. They will be using physics to determine what makes their ping-pong ball go the farthest.

Activity: Students will design and construct a catapult with given materials. They will also be given several pictures of different catapults. The catapult must be able to launch the given projectile (ping-pong ball). The distance the projectile is thrown determines the best catapult; longest distance is best (see activity sheet). After the activity, the students and instructor will discuss what the most efficient design is and what could be changed to launch the ping-pong ball even farther.

Bibliography:

Bahjat, A. (2001). Catapults. Retrieved from http://autocww.colorado.edu/~black mon/E64ContentFiles/MilitaryWeapons/Catapult.html

Catapults. (2008). Retrieved from http://wondercrack.blogspot.com/2008/ 02/catapults.html

Kotler, K. (2010). How to make a popsicle catapult with four popsicle sticks. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/how_6624931_make-catapult-four-popsicle-sticks.html

Introduction: Catapults are medieval devices used to hurl objects through the air. In this activity you will be designing your own miniature catapult with the goal of launching a ping-pong ball the farthest.

Directions

Using the materials you are given, design and construct a freestanding miniature catapult that will hurl a ping-pong ball as far as possible. There are no requirements for size of your catapult, but it must have an arm that is responsible for launching your projectile along with a base that sits on the floor. You are allowed to touch the arm prior to the launch, but once the ping-pong ball is in motion, there can be no human intervention. Distance will be measured from the base of your catapult to where the ping-pong ball landed. If you have any questions, please see your instructor. TRY TO LAUNCH YOUR PING-PONG BALL THE FARTHEST!

Materials: 10 Popsicle sticks 5 3” by 5” index cards 20” of masking tape 3 rubber bands 1 Rock Scissors Ruler Ping-pong ball

Before you begin construction…

Make sure you have the materials you are supposed to have in your bag. Discuss a design with your group; try drawing out what you have planned. Think of ways that you will support your launching arm. What will your design look like? How exactly you will launch your ping-pong ball? What will you use to launch it? Remember: you cannot do anything except touch your arm prior to the launch.

Look at the pictures below to get ideas for your own design, but be creative!

**Test your catapult! Try to get your projectile farther each throw by altering your original design! If you can launch yours the farthest, you win!