Play Catapult

When your teacher announces the assignment to build your own catapult, it may seem like a daunting task at first. There are a lot of different ways you could go about it, but there is a pattern that allows you to make your own catapult using every day items found in your own home. Just collect ice cream sticks and a milk carton, gather some supplies, and you will be well on your way to making a working catapult.

Instructions

1 Cut the ice cream sticks as follows: 3 pieces with squared ends that are 2 inches long; 6 pieces with squared ends that are 4 inches long; 1 piece with 1 rounded end and 1 squared end that is 3 inches long; and 1 piece with 1 rounded end and 1 squared end that is 4 inches long.
2 Tape 2 of the 4-inch pieces and 2 of the 2-inch pieces together end to end, alternating short sticks and long sticks.
3 Bend the taped "joints" so that the sticks are shaped like a rectangle and tape the last joint.
4 Tape a 2-inch piece to the inside of one of the short sides, making sure to leave the middle area tape-free.
5 Tape 2 of the 4-inch pieces together laying side by side like a picket fence.
6 Repeat with 2 more 4-inch sticks.
7 Lay the taped 4-inch sticks on top of the rectangle lengthwise so they are flush with the corners, leaving a gap in the center.
8 Tape one end of the cut rubber band to the rounded end of the 3 inch stick. Then slide the other end of the stick between the 2 sticks on the short end of the rectangle where you taped a second stick in step 4.
9 Make the "hinge" for the catapult. Layer 4 2-inch strips of tape, one on top of the other, and then cut them in half lengthwise. Attach it to 1 side of the squared end of the 4-inch stick so that half of the tape hangs over. Repeat with the other side of the stick and the other strip of layer tape. You will end up with a stick with 2 "feet" on one end.
10 Press the feet together and tape it to the stick with the rubber band coming out of the top. When you bend the hinge, it should lay up against the stick with the rubber band.
11 Tape the loose end of the rubber band to the rounded end of the 4-inch hinge stick.
12 Cut the bottom off the milk carton, leaving a 1-inch rim. This cup should then be taped to the rounded end of the 4-inch catapult arm.
13 To use your catapult, put something in the milk carton cup, pull it back so that the rubber band stretches as far back as it will go, and release.

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