Play Catapult

Catapults provide great fun for kids, providing they are used sensibly. The kids can set up a target in the back yard and practice their firing techniques with their friends. Its a great way to spend a few hours during the afternoon. Some catapults can be quite complex, using levers and springs, but a simple form of catapult, often referred to as a slingshot, is quick and easy to make using some wood from a tree and a couple of rubber bands.

Instructions

1 Find a tree that has a branch without leaves on it. The wood you use for the kids' catapult needs to be fairly dry, but not so dry that it's brittle.
2 Locate a branch that has a shape like the letter "Y." You can find this shape where two branches split.
3 Cut the branch about 4 inches below where the two branches split. Use a small hand saw to carefully cut through the branch. This part forms the handle of the catapult.
4 Cut the two branches that form the V part from the handle about 3 inches above where they are joined to the handle. Use a hand saw and make sure that the two branches that form the V are exactly the same length.
5 Use a knife and cut a small, V-shaped notch from the outside edge of the two branches forming the V shape. You need to cut the notch about 1/2 inch down from the top of the V shape. The notches will hold the rubber bands in place.
6 Cut out a 2-by-2-inch square from a sheet of flexible plastic using a knife. The lid from an ice cream container is good. This is the slingshot part of the catapult.
7 Cut two 1/4-inch slits centrally in the square of plastic, but about 1/2 inch apart from each other using a knife. Slide a thick 1/4-inch rubber band through one slit and then through the other slit; if you only have thin bands then use two or three. Place the plastic square in the center of the bands.
8 Place the rubber band over one of the notches and then stretch the bands using your fingers, so you can put the other side of the band over the other notch.
9 Hold the catapult in one hand and place the item you intend to fire centrally on the square of plastic using the other hand. Pull the plastic backward while keeping the catapult in the same place. Aim and then let go of the square of plastic.

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