Easiest Catapult Ever

In addition to shooting marshmallows, we have flung them with the easiest catapult to make ever.

The Bear Scouts in our pack made some fairly complicated catapults and my Wolves were a bit jealous.  I didn't think they could manage the detailed directions of the ones the Bears made, so I found some that were much easier for my special needs boys to handle.

One thing I did learn is that even 8 year olds struggle with the concept of wrapping a rubber band around something more than once.  I thought that would be simple for them, but all three of my Scouts found it challenging, so be prepared to help them figure it out.

It's best to glue the soda bottle cap on the end of a popsicle stick before the meeting, so the Scouts don't have to wait for the glue to dry.  We used super glue, but the caps popped off the stick after several minutes of use.  I think Gorilla Glue might work better.

Supplies needed for these are

• 7 Popsicle large sticks
• 4 rubber bands
• 1 water or soda bottle cap
• glue
• a handful of mini marshmallows

First, gather up 5 of the popsicle sticks in a bundle.  Put a rubber band around one end and wrap it tightly.  Repeat with the other end.

Next gather up the remaining two sticks - the one with the bottle cap glued to it and the remaining "blank" one - and wrap a rubber band tightly around the end opposite the cap.

Wedge the bundle of 5 sticks between the two sticks.  Here's the tricky part.  Wrap a rubber band crossways tightly around the "joint" of the two bundles of sticks.  Now repeat going the other direction.  This helps keep your 5 stick bundle into place.

Place your catapult on a flat surface.  Load up your bottle cap with a mini marshmallow, press down on the end of the stick, aim and FIRE!

As the boys are working on their catapult is a good time to get in some science and engineering conversation.  Talk about what they are making and what kind of simple machine it is (lever and fulcrum).  This project can count toward Wolf Scout Elective 10 (Machine Power) and the Swing! STEM award.