Play Catapult

When you are learning about weaponry and artillery from the dark ages, you may be amazed by how powerful and widely used catapults were for launching objects into and over fortress walls. One way to increase your understanding of these early weapons is to create a miniature catapult yourself, using a few basic materials that can be found at any office supply store. This enables you to recreate a working catapult that you can use to launch small, soft objects.

Instructions

1 Place three popsicle sticks into a triangle, and securely tape all of the corners using duct tape. Repeat this process to create a total of three taped-together triangles from popsicle sticks.
2 Tape two of the popsicle triangles together along one side, opening up the triangles into a 60 degree angle. Place the taped triangles upright onto a table top.
3 Place the third triangle flat onto the table in front of the upright triangles, and slide it in between the two taped together triangles, which should be a perfect fit. Tape the sides to secure the form into a nearly complete pyramid.
4 Insert the handle of a plastic spoon into the corner where all of the triangles touch, and wrap string around the handle and the corner of the pyramid to secure the spoon in place. Position the spoon bowl side up at a 45-degree angle from the bottom of the pyramid.
5 Loop a medium rubber band around the bowl of the spoon and also around the top of the pyramid. Place a soft object into the bowl of the spoon, pull it back, then release the spoon to launch the object across the room.

Building a Popsicle stick catapult is a fun, cheap and easy rainy day craft for children. Once built, this mini-catapult can be used to play the game "Storm the Castle." A catapult also teaches the scientific principles of motion, forces and simple machines. With four Popsicle sticks and a little know-how, you and your child can spend a fun and engaging craft time making this historical siege weapon.

Instructions

1 Lay two of the four Popsicle sticks on each long end of one of the 3 by 5 index cards to begin making the base of the catapult. Tape them to the card using a strip of masking tape at either short end of the card.
2 Cut the third Popsicle stick in half. Tape the two ends together to make an L-shape with the stick. Place the L so one end sticks up into the air and the other end lays in the middle of the two Popsicle sticks already taped to the card. Tape the bottom part of the L to the card using a strip of masking tape across the middle of the card (covering all three Popsicle sticks). Pace another strip of masking tape across the joint of the L at the end of the card (also covering all three Popsicle sticks). This completes the base for your catapult.
3 Tape the fourth Popsicle stick into the point of the L using masking tape on the top and bottom joints. This makes the catapult arm.
4 Cut the rubber band with scissors so it is one long rubber strip.Tape one end to the back of the catapult arm about 1 inch down on the stick. Pull the rubber band up and toward the back of the portion of your L which is sticking up off of the catapult base. You want to create a V-shape with the arm and the base. Then tape the remainder of the rubber band to the back of the L portion of the base so the rubber strip is taut, but not too tight. The catapult is now complete.
5 Fold the second index card into fourths. Unfold and cut along the creases with the scissors. Fold each of the pieces in half to make the pellets you'll fling using the catapult.
6 Load a pellet onto the long end of the catapult arm. Hold the base card of the catapult on the table with one hand. With the other hand, push the arm down until it touches the card and then release to fling the pellet.

If you collect action figures and you're the type who prefers the figures and playsets outside of their plastic packaging, why waste money on them when making some from scratch is fun and cost effective? Storming the castle with a custom-made catapult to suit the average action figure size is great way to add to the fun and your collection.

Instructions

1 Put the 7-inch wood block flat on your table. Measure and mark 3/4 inches from the front of the block and a half inch from the top of the block. Repeat the step on the rear and on the other side of the block, opposite of where you made your other two marks. These will be where you'll drill for the wheel placements later.
2 Hold a wheel over one of the pencil markings and drill, using a wood screw. Attach the wheel onto the wood surface using a wood screw but not drilling through entirely. Allow the wheel to spin loose for rolling movement. Re-do the steps for each wheel.
3 With the bigger block flat, measure and cut to the exact center using the jigsaw, cutting large enough to insert the thickness of the measuring spoon into the newly cut slot. Make sure to cut all the way through the block.
4 Set the block horizontally and across its side surface, holding one side nearly covering the cut from the previous step and creating a stopping block for the firing arm that aids in shooting the projectile further. Allow the glue to dry completely.
5 Slide the tablespoon's handle into the cut slot and press down until firm. Apply small amounts of glue to the base of the spoon for extra strength, and allow it to dry. Paint or stain if desired.

Take yourself back to the Middle Ages; you're trying to break down a fortified wall. What do you do? Get a catapult of course. Widely-used in ancient warfare, catapults utilize tension and leverage to launch devices or objects at enemies' buildings --- and sometimes the enemies themselves. Several types of catapults existed, some of which were large and bulky, others small and mobile.

Trebuchet

Trebuchets hold a major distinction from other catapult types. Rather than creating force by rope tension, they use a large counterweight which subsequently throws the object loaded into the lighter, opposing end. Usually used as siege weapons, trebuchets started in China, gradually making their way to Europe over subsequent centuries. Trebuchets played a significant role in warfare in Europe during the middle ages. The French military even made alterations to the trebuchet making it more accurate and keeping it in service for centuries.

Ballistas

The ballista is also familiar to most people as it has been featured in many movies. Looking like a modern-day crossbow, a ballista holds and fires an arrow. Many objects substitute well for an arrow within a ballista; arrows can be wooden or metal and although a sharpened end helps, isn't necessary.
Ballistas utilize tension in rope by pulling back a single rope which twists around two tension-loading posts on the sides. The ballista has a longer and richer history than the trebuchet; although it was used during the Middle Ages, it dates back to Greek and Roman warfare.

Mangonel

The mangonel dates back to Roman times, where it was commonly used in warfare. Larger than the ballista, but smaller than the trebuchet, the mangonel consists of a base with wheels, a long maneuverable arm, and a hollowed semi-circle at the end of the arm used for holding projectiles. Unlike the ballista, mangonels shoot projectiles with an arc as opposed to a straight-line. Dangerous in warfare, the projectiles have a range of up to 1,300 feet for top-of-the-line mangonels.

Modern Catapults

Although they might have lost their critical stronghold in warfare, catapults can still be found today. One common use is aircraft carriers, which utilize a very large and powerful catapult built to launch aircraft to a high speed over a very short distance, allowing them to take off successfully. Basic ballista-style catapults can be bought for clay-shooting, a common technique for hunters. Small versions of mangonel catapults were even used during World War I for grenade launching out of trenches.

Teach kids about simple machines and castle sieges with one project. You can build a craft stick catapult in a few minutes. Small children can participate in the construction and everyone can use the catapult to launch light items into the air. Older children can study the ballistics of trajectory and weight, while younger kids will just have fun tinkering with aim and experimenting with different sorts of "ammunition."

Instructions

1 Collect two piles of craft sticks, one with five to nine sticks and the other with only two.
2 Secure one end of the larger pile of sticks with a rubber band. Turn the pile and wrap a second rubber band tightly around the other end. You will have the equivalent of a very thick craft stick with bands wrapped around each end.
3 Taking up the pile of two sticks, wrap a third rubber band around one end, leaving the other end free. You should be able to open and close the open end, like opening and closing a crocodile mouth.
4 Slide the thick stack sideways into the open "mouth" of the shorter stack. The two stacks will now sit perpendicular to each other, with the thicker inside the thinner. You can see how pressing down on the top of the "mouth" creates a springy action.
5 Use a fourth band to tighten the two stacks together. Wrap first around one side of the large stack, then around the banded side of the small stack, then around the farther side of the large stack, repeating in the opposite direction if possible. Leave the open side unwrapped.
6 Glue the handle of your plastic spoon onto the top of the open short stack of sticks using the hot glue gun. Use the spoon handle to extend the arm of the top of your catapult and create a basket for the items you will project. You can, alternatively, glue a bottle cap directly onto the craft stick, leaving a small space for pressing the stick down.
7 When all is solidly dried, place a small, light object into the cup of the spoon or bottle cap, press down on the upper craft stick, and release to project the item. Experiment with different projectiles and perfect your aim and arc.

Finding activities that children and parents can enjoy together can be challenging, but, since 1992, K'NEX Brands has been encouraging families to develop resourcefulness together in an enjoyable, innovative manner with its construction sets. One particular K'NEX building project is the catapult, which allows a child's inventiveness to spring into action. This simple model provides an opportunity for children and parents alike to engage their engineering skills and experience the reward of creating their very own launching machine.

Instructions

1 Collect all required materials as listed in the "Things You'll Need" section, and organize them in a manner in which individual pieces are easily located. If one piece is missing, proper assembly of the catapult will be affected and could cause issues with its effectiveness. Arrange the pieces into the three categories listed, and place them on a flat surface such as a table or countertop.
2 Partner a five-slot connector with a red rod by sliding the red rod through the connector. Position the connector in the center of the rod and add the remaining five-slot connectors onto each side of the center connector. Join all one-slot connectors to each side of the five-slot connectors. Attach one wheel to either side of the red rod and cap each wheel with the two double-slot orange connectors. This completes the base of the catapult.
3 Set aside the small green rod and one triple-slot connector. Conjoin all other rods and connectors in the manner of your choice to create your ideal throwing arm. Length and width may vary based on how high or far you would like your catapult to launch objects, but the throwing arm must consist of four right triangles and two free-ended rods. Attach the free-ended rods to the centered five-slot connector. This will join the throwing arm to the base.
4 Create your launch object by connecting the small green rod with the center slot of the remaining triple-slot connector. Attach the newly made arrow to the top of the throwing arm, and check that it is centered and balanced for optimal launching conditions.
5 Aim away from anything that could be damaged, pull back and fire your catapult.

Webelos is a scouting program that bridges the gap between Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, offering scouts the chance to earn 20 different badges. To earn each badge, the scout must complete a list of requirements. One of the Webelos badges is the Engineering Activity Badge. "Requirement Number 9" reads: "Build a catapult and show how it works." Make a shoebox catapult to earn your badge.

Instructions

1 Cut out one of the short ends of the shoe box, by cutting down the two corner edges on the sides of the short end. Leave 1 inch of cardboard across the bottom of the opening.
2 Measure 2 1/2 inches along the long, outer side of the shoebox, starting from the open cut end. Mark each side of the box with two small dots. Use the paper punch to punch a hole on the side of the shoebox, at each mark, measured 1 inch down from the top.
3 Starting on the outside of the box, insert one unsharpened pencil through the holes until it pokes out of the hole on the other side of the box.
4 Place the second unsharpened pencil against the center of first to form a perpendicular cross. Rest the eraser of the vertical pencil on the bottom of the shoe box. Start at the center point where the pencils meet and secure the pencils together by wrapping electrical tape around where the two pencils intersect.
5 Mark the spot where the pencil meets the bottom of the box. Use your scissors to poke a hole through the box at this spot.
6 Turn the box on its side. Push the rubber band through the hole on the bottom, and then into the box. There will be a loop on the inside of the box and one on the outside bottom. Place the eraser end of the pencil into the loop on the inside of the box. Insert the craft stick through the rubber band loop on the outside bottom of the box. The craft stick will keep the rubber band from coming through the hole and provide resistance, while allowing the box to rest fairly level on a flat surface.
7 Hold the spoon upright, with the inside scoop facing away from the cut end of the shoebox. Set it against the vertical pencil, on the side farthest away from the cut end of the shoebox. Tape the handle of the spoon to the upright pencil with electrical tape. Secure the tape until you are able to pick up the entire unit with the scoop of the spoon without any parts coming loose.
8 Pull the spoon down, toward the cut side of the shoebox. You will feel resistance from the rubber band pulling against the pencil. Choose a soft, lightweight projectile to place in the scoop. Release the spoon to launch.

Catapults, by definition, are machines used for hurling large stones used in ancient and medieval times. Although you won't be able to hurl large objects with a straw catapult, make a catapult to relieve stress by hurling paper into a garbage can or at your fellow co-workers.

Instructions

1 Cut one straw in half with scissors. These are the top and bottom base pieces. Position the top and bottom pieces parallel to each other. Position two full straws, which are the side base pieces, between the top and bottom pieces. The straws make a rectangle, which is the base. Glue the corners of the straws together, using a hot glue gun.
2 Cross the ends of the two straws in a teepee shape, which are the long sides. The straws intersect 1 inch from the top ends of the straws. Cut different straw in half. The half straw is the bottom side. Position the bottom side at the bottom ends of the long sides. Adjust the bottom ends of long sides until you make a triangle.
3 Glue the intersection point of the long sides using a hot glue gun. Glue the bottom ends of the long sides with the ends of the bottom side using a hot glue gun. The triangular structure makes the left side piece. Repeat to make the right side piece.
4 Position the left side piece inside the left center of the base. Glue the bottom edge of the left side piece to the inside of the base using a hot glue gun. Repeat to glue the right side piece.
5 Squeeze the tops of the left and right side pieces in the center of the base and glue them together. The two glued top pieces make a point. Glue a paper clip to the point using a hot glue gun. Wrap a rubber band around the paper clip and point to secure it. The paper clip holds the object to be launched.

A toy catapult is a toy that can provide hours of simple playtime for boys and girls. Making a catapult with two pencils and a rubber band is an easy process that you can do in a matter of five minutes. With two pencils as a stabilizer and a rubber band as the launching power, you can build a catapult your child can use to knock down homemade targets.

Instructions

1 Place two pencils of equal length into a solid base, such as the ground or in a hunk of foam. This will keep the pencils stable when the catapult is launched.
2 Break a rubber band and tie one end to each of the pencils. A simple slipknot will work. To tie this knot, loop each rubber band end around itself and pull the ends tight in the same way you tie a shoe, then fold the rubber band ends to create a loop. Pull one end through the loop and tug to tighten it.
3 Staple a small piece of cardboard to the center of the rubber band to use for a seating device. The cardboard should be about half the size of a matchbook cover. This is where you will place the tiny pebbles you want to launch.