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Thinking sheet · Math and science
Spoon Catapult Test
Build a spoon-and-rubber-band catapult, launch a pom-pom three ways and measure how far it flies.
- Grades
- 2–5
- Time
- about 30 minutes
- Topic
- Math and science
- Kids practice
- engineering, measuring, changing one thing at a time
What kids do
“Launch time! How far can your catapult fling a pom-pom?”
- Draw your catapult and label it
- How far it flew (one bar per try)
- My tests
- The change that worked best was… because…
How to run it
- Build: tape a plastic spoon to a stack of craft sticks held with rubber bands.
- Change one thing per try: how far you pull, the angle, the object.
- Launch soft things only, away from faces.
Talk about it
- What made it go farther?
- Why change only one thing at a time?
- Where are catapults used in history?
Take it further
Try to land the pom-pom in a cup.
Pairs well with
Free for home and classroom use. Print as many copies as you need.
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