::: mini catapults
We found a great science activity through Jenny’s “Let the children play” Facebook page, who picked it up from another great blog “Almost Unschoolers“.“
We needed a block of wood, a peg, a pop stick, a bottle top and something that we wanted to let fly!
We brought out the trusty glue gun as we wanted instant stickability.
Actually it was our swanky new cordless glue gun!
The children glued the peg onto the wood …
taking care not to touch the hot glue.
Next the pop stick went on top of the peg to extend the length of the catapult.
Another dob of glue …
and a bottle top or cardboard cylinder was glued on for a holder.
We found the bottle tops flicked off but the cardboard cylinders held tight …
then off they went!
This first day many of the children were only concerned with which one flew the furthest …
until they discovered …
just how high …
they could make them travel!
It was all to do with physics!
The next day we gave them a bit of a challenge by setting up containers for them to aim their missiles into.
This time instead of going all out …
they had to modify the thrust of the catapult so that the missiles only went a certain short distance.
Many children rose to the challenge and some were there for a long time honing their skills.
We heard some great counting down “10, 9, 8, 7 ….” and some serious score keeping, “I’ve got it in eight times now!”
Simple but fun …
science and maths in action!
Tags: bottle tops, glue, pegs, pop sticks
We made these and they were so much fun for my boys. They hold up amazingly well!
::: Apart from some of the bottle tops flying off Phyllis our too have put up with a lot of action!
We have some slightly larger catapults that we use for flinging ping pong balls, but these top those in every way. Once I figure out what we can use for “holders,” we’re making these.
Several years ago I made a half dozen large catapults for tossing tennis balls for an event for my daughter’s 4th grade class. I used bungee cords and the balls really took off at a high rate of speed. I tried them in the preschool, but they were just a little too dangerous even for me — kids kept missing their own chins by millimeters.
By the way, the cordless glue gun is pretty nifty. Does it work as well as plug ins?
::: What’s that Tom … too dangerous even for you? Wow! They must have been extreme catapults!
The cordless glue gun is terrific. It’s bigger than our original (which blew up last week on our very first catapult … big bang, black smoke pungent smell … the boys loved it!) It takes 11mm glue sticks. It glues just as well and it’s great the cord doesn’t get in the way but ideally it would be available in the smaller size. 
oh, boy. adding this to our plans, i am!!!
::: It was a real favourite with our children Kristin … we’ll probably have children wanting to make more this week too!
Interesting! i am curious about the cardboard cylinder. where does it come from?
also, i just love your blog. it is VERY inspiring. i am intrigued by your classroom space too and would love to see more pictures.
::: Aurore the cylinder came from a local recycling center called “Reverse Art Truck”. As for seeing our room … well it’s right throughout the blog but we have included a couple of links for you!
http://www.playbasedlearning.com.au/2010/09/reverse-art-truck-a-bag-ladies-dream/
http://www.playbasedlearning.com.au/2010/01/irresistible-room-set-ups/
http://www.playbasedlearning.com.au/2010/04/hush-garden-continued/
Absoloutly fantastic, I always thought I was creative until I look on here think I’ll move countries so my kids can come to you.
::: That’s very kind of you Bea but it helps when you are able to pick up new ideas from some pretty amazing blooging friends!
Now that is some glue gun!!!!
A few of my children have recently been experimenting with catapults in the block corner…I’m watching and waiting…ready to introduce this fun activity to the mix!
::: Have fun with it Jo.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Early Childhood, Barbara Blalock. Barbara Blalock said: Mini catapults…how fun! We have FREE wood at Treasures 4 Teachers. http://fb.me/C99nKtTF [...]
Our little ones went nuts with this too! We even hung some hula hoops from the ceiling for target practice, and we used cotton balls as our ammo. Each of the children made one to take home, and we also made them with the boy scouts! Of course, we have a couple of them here to continue to use
.
::: Amy we too had to make a set to keep at kinder as every one who made one couldn’t wait to take it home to play with!
love the catapult idea, how simple but effective
::: “Simple but effective” … isn’t learning through play great Kelli!
You beat me to it! I had this in my head for next week
But now all I have to do is copy the way you did it, which was irresistible. I love all the different ways the kids used them – and your idea for using the containers as targets (and Amy’s idea for hula hoops).
::: Well technically we copied it from you and “Hair roller boy” Jenny so for you to copy us is only fair! …BTW Amy’s hula hoop idea certainly sound very cool.
This is great! (I’m catching up on my blogs from last week.)
My boys have enjoyed creating catapults in the blocks. This would send them over the edge. Think I’ll do it!
::: Go for it Scott! Even our pre-kinder children where challenging each other to send the missiles higher and higher yesterday.
[...] – there are a couple of simple designs and you can test them all. Our favorite uses a block of wood, a clothes pin, a craft stick, and a bottle cap. It’s easy to aim and [...]
I walked past wooden pegs at the supermarket the other day and stopped and thought about how I could use them in some kind of activity…now I’ll have to go back and buy some
. It’s such an appealing activity – initially I thought wow the boys would love it…but I can see the girls really getting involved also. Thank you.
::: Bianca we certainly found this to be an activity that engaged both boys and girls … It will be interesting to see what your children think.
[...] Small Motor Skill, Tradition, Working Together | Leave a comment » I found these great mini catapults on Irresistible Ideas and Almost Unschoolers some time ago. catapult [...]
[...] first read about DIY working catapults from Irresistible Ideas for Play Based Learning well over a year [...]