Build a catapult
Build a simple mini catapult using craft sticks, rubber bands, and a plastic spoon to launch pom-poms while learning about force, angle, and measurement.
Step-by-step guide to build a mini catapult with craft sticks, rubber bands, and a plastic spoon
Step 1
Gather all the materials and move to a clear table or floor space.
Step 2
Stack three craft sticks neatly on top of each other.
Step 3
Wrap one rubber band tightly around one end of the three-stick stack to hold the pieces together.
Step 4
Lay the plastic spoon so the bowl sits over the banded end of the three-stick stack.
Step 5
Wrap a rubber band around the spoon handle and the three sticks just below the bowl to hold the spoon firmly.
Step 6
Stack four craft sticks neatly on top of each other to make the base.
Step 7
Wrap one rubber band tightly around one end of the four-stick base to hold it together.
Step 8
Lay the four-stick base flat on the table with the banded end to the right.
Step 9
Place the three-stick arm across the base so the spoon points upward and the banded ends are close together.
Step 10
Slide one loose craft stick between the arm and the base near the banded ends to act as the pivot fulcrum.
Step 11
Wrap a rubber band around the arm stack the base and the fulcrum stick to hold the pivot while still allowing the arm to move.
Step 12
Put one small pom-pom in the spoon bowl.
Step 13
Press the spoon down and release it to launch the pom-pom.
Step 14
Use the ruler to measure how far the pom-pom traveled and write down the distance.
Step 15
Share a photo or video of your finished catapult and your distance results on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
If I can't find craft sticks, rubber bands, or pom-poms, what can I use instead?
Substitute craft sticks with similar flat wooden strips (popsicle sticks or trimmed cardboard), use hair ties or strong tape in place of rubber bands for the wrapped joints, and trade the pom-pom for a cotton ball or crumpled paper in the spoon bowl.
My catapult arm won't swing or the spoon slips when I launch—what should I try?
If the arm won't swing, loosen the rubber band holding the arm stack, base and fulcrum stick so the arm can move freely, and if the spoon slips, add another rubber band around the spoon handle and the three sticks just below the bowl to hold it firmly.
How can I adapt this activity for different ages or skill levels?
For younger kids pre-stack the three- and four-stick groups and use a larger pom-pom for easier launching, while older kids can vary the number of craft sticks in the arm or base and use the ruler to measure and compare distances.
What are simple ways to extend or personalize the catapult project?
Decorate the craft sticks with markers, move the fulcrum stick closer or farther from the banded ends to test how launch distance changes, try different projectiles, and share a photo or video plus your ruler-measured distances on DIY.org.
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Facts about simple machines and basic physics
⚖️ Archimedes described how levers multiply force and famously said, "Give me a place to stand, and I will move the Earth."
🏰 Ancient catapults and trebuchets were siege machines — some trebuchets could fling heavy stones hundreds of meters.
🎯 In ideal physics (no air resistance), launching a projectile at 45° gives the maximum range on level ground.
📐 Small changes in angle or tension make big differences — shifting the launch angle by just a few degrees can move where your pom‑pom lands by meters.
🧪 The vulcanization process discovered by Charles Goodyear in 1839 made rubber stretchy and durable enough for practical rubber bands.
How do you build a simple mini catapult to launch pom‑poms?
What materials do I need to make the catapult?
What ages is this mini catapult activity suitable for?
What safety tips should I follow when kids use the catapult?
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