Use a catapult to launch at a target

What can we use if we can't find craft sticks, rubber bands, or a plastic spoon?

If you don't have craft sticks use sturdy pencils or tongue depressors for the stack, substitute hair elastics or twist ties for the rubber bands when wrapping the ends, and replace the plastic spoon with a small disposable spoon or a folded bottle cap fastened to the arm.

The catapult arm isn't launching or the projectile keeps falling out—what should we check?

If the arm won't swing or the projectile falls out, check that the pivot loop around the stack and arm is tight (step where you loop a rubber band around the stack and arm) and either fasten the plastic spoon more securely with tape as in the fastening step or add one more rubber band around the arm pivot as suggested later.

How can we adapt this activity for different ages?

For preschoolers have an adult do the tight rubber-band wrapping in steps that secure the stacked sticks and fasten the spoon with tape while using larger soft projectiles and a close paper target, and for older kids let them move the stopper craft stick by 1 centimeter increments and add extra pivot rubber bands to experiment with range (steps about the stopper and adding a rubber band).

How can we improve or personalize our catapult and make the challenge more advanced?

To extend the activity decorate and label the craft sticks, mark multiple stopper positions to test how each 1 cm change in step 11 affects accuracy, try adding extra rubber bands around the arm pivot per step 13 to measure increased distance, and set up a scoring target before taking a photo or video to share on DIY.org.