Play Catapult

The catapult was first described by the Greek historian Diodorus in the first century B.C. Greeks were the first to use catapults; they made them using a similar design as the crossbow. The catapults we are most familiar with today, however, date back to medieval times and were used to break down castle walls. Some of these catapults used a triangular construction, and you can create a similar design with Popsicle sticks to simulate this dangerous weapon.

Instructions

1 Place two Popsicle sticks on top of each other and line them up. Tape them together. Create five more similar groupings of two Popsicle sticks taped together.
2 Tape three of the groupings together at their ends to form a triangle. Lay the triangle flat on an even surface.
3 Tape one end of one grouping of Popsicle sticks to one of the points on the triangle that is laying flat. When finished, this stick grouping should be attached and standing above the point on the triangle that is laying flat, but you should be able to move it an inch to either side. Attach the other two groupings to the two other points on the triangle laying flat in a similar way.
4 Bring the opposite ends of the Popsicle stick groupings together in the center above the triangle laying down. Tape these ends together. You'll now have a three-dimensional triangle in front of you.
5 Lay two Popsicle sticks down on a flat surface. Place them end-to-end so that they form a straight line. Place a third Popsicle stick across the two Popsicle sticks lengthwise. This third Popsicle stick will act as a brace to hold the two Popsicle sticks together. Tape the three sticks together to form a strong catapult arm.
6 Apply glue to the underside of the mini cupcake cup and attach the cup a half-inch away from one end of the arm. This cup is the projectile holder.
7 Pass the catapult arm through the middle of the triangular structure. Lead with the end that does not have the projectile holder attached to it. Tape this end of the arm to the area on the structure where three Popsicle stick bundles come together at the base.
8 Tie or tape about a half-inch of the elastic band to the top point of the triangular structure. Orient the elastic band so that it can be reached by the end of the catapult arm with the projectile holder.
9 Wrap the opposite side of the elastic band around the catapult arm just underneath the projectile holder.
10 Place a projectile in the holder, pull the catapult arm down and let it go. The projectile will fly through the air.