How to Make a Tabletop Trebuchet With Popsicle Sticks
When you are teaching kids about medieval history and the weapons used during the Middle Ages, you can make the lesson more exciting and interactive with a related craft. For example, help the children construct a working model of a trebuchet using materials that can be found at any arts and crafts store, such as popsicle sticks. When the kids are done, they can have fun launching soft objects across the room or school yard using the trebuchet.
Instructions
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Place three popsicle sticks into an equilateral triangle, and tape the corners together with duct tape to secure the triangle in place. Repeat this procedure to create a total of three triangles of equal size.
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Place two popsicle triangles together along one side, and angle them 60 degrees apart. Tape the triangles along the touching edge using duct tape.
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Place the taped triangles upright on a table with the opened side facing you. Place the third triangle flat in front of the upright triangle formation.
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Slide the flat triangle into the slot that is created by the two upright triangles, then tape all of the edges using duct tape to secure the pyramid-like form into place.
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Position the remaining popsicle stick into the corner of the pyramid form opposite you, and angle the stick so that it is 45 degrees off the table. Tape the corner with duct tape to secure it in place.
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Tape a bottle cap onto the end of the angled popsicle stick using duct tape, positioning the bottle cap so that the cup side faces up.
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Loop a rubber band around the angled popsicle stick and around the top of the pyramid form. Place a cotton ball onto the bottle cap, pull the angled popsicle stick back slightly, then release the stick to launch the cotton ball.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not launch sharp or pointed objects, which can cause injury.
Never launch an object at someone's face.
References
- Photo Credit Dynamic Graphics Group/Dynamic Graphics Group/Getty Images
