Grades 3–5
Kinds of Engineers
Match six kinds of engineers to what they design, then tell which one you would like to be.
Science worksheet · Engineering design
Craft Stick Catapult
Build a catapult from craft sticks and rubber bands, launch a pom-pom and measure how far it flies.
- Grade level
- Grades 3–5
- Time
- About 40 minutes
- Topic
- Engineering design
- Answer key
- Not needed: answers vary
- Kids practice
- Engineering design, Building and testing, Teamwork
What kids do
Printed on the sheet:
- Build it: stack 5 craft sticks and wrap a rubber band around each end. Band 2 more sticks together at one end only. Open them gently, slide the stack between them and glue a bottle cap to the free end of the top stick. Test it: put a pom-pom in the cap, press down and let go.
- How far I pressed down
- My longest launch
- One change I will try next
- What made the pom-pom fly farther? What kind of simple machine is a catapult?
Teacher tip
Measure distance with a tape measure and let kids change one thing at a time.
How to use it
- Give each team the same materials and a time limit.
- Ask teams to sketch a plan before they touch the materials.
- Let partners compare answers and settle any differences with a book or a video.
Watch for
Teams where one child builds and the rest watch. Give every child a job.
Talk about it
- What would you change if you built it again?
- What evidence helped you choose your answer?
Take it further
Hold a gallery walk where teams explain their design.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More engineering design worksheets
Grades 2–5
Paper Marble Run
Build a marble run from paper and tape that makes the marble roll as slowly as it can, then improve it.
Grades 2–4
The Engineering Design Process
Number the five steps engineers use, from ask to improve, then name a problem an engineer could solve.
Grades 3–5
Egg Drop Challenge
Plan, build and test a package that keeps an egg from breaking when it falls.
Free for teachers
Get the free Classroom Drawing Kit
12 printable pages: six step-by-step lessons, a grid activity, draw-and-write sheets and teacher notes, sent with your welcome email. After that, new classroom printables by email.