How to Make Your Own Catapult the Easy Way

Handmade catapults are exciting to make and play with.

Catapults are an old-fashioned war device that was designed to launch objects over the walls of a fort or castle. If you are teaching children about Medieval history, make the lessons more exciting by having the kids create their own catapults out of craft supplies. Use them to launch small objects, such as paper balls, coins or erasers, across the classroom when the children finish building the catapults.

Things You'll Need

• 10 8-inch long craft sticks
• Duct tape
• Scissors
• Rubber band
• Small paper cup

Instructions

1. Arrange three craft sticks into a triangle on a table top and tape the sticks together with duct tape at the corners. Make all of the craft sticks the same length and position them flat against the table before taping them.

2. Repeat this process two more times so that you have three craft stick triangles.

3. Tape together two of the triangles along one edge. This allows the triangle pair to open like a book.

4. Open the triangle pair to a 60-degree angle and slide the third triangle into the opening perpendicularly. Rest the third triangle flat against the table as you insert it between the other two. Tape the triangles together at all abutting sides.

5. Place a singular craft stick into the corner where all of the triangles meet and tape it into place so that the craft stick rests at a 120-degree angle.

6. Wrap a rubber band around the craft stick and the top of the triangular structure.

7. Tape a small paper cup, bottom down, onto the end of the singular craft stick. Place an object into the paper cup. When you pull it back and release it, the object flies across the room.

Tips & Warnings

• Make your catapult decorative by using differently colored duct tape.

References

• Storm the Castle: Popsicle Stick Catapult