How to Make a Catapult from Popsicle Sticks
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Are you looking for a science activity for your young kids? Teach them how to make a catapult from popsicle sticks. Once they’ve completed the catapult, they can have a ball-launching competition!
This catapult activity is a great rainy day idea for your childcare, but it’s full of science concepts that can teach your kids new things at any time. Children will learn cause and effect, theories of motion, trajectory, and so much more.
They will also gain fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination from this activity.
Daycare science activities
Science is my absolute favorite thing to teach my kids. We love learning from nature, cooking, and so much more and there are so many wonderful skills and concepts kids can learn through science.
I loved doing it as a kid, and some of my most memorable learning came from science teachers and science activities. I mean, who doesn’t remember erupting vinegar volcanos or dissecting?
Think back to your favorite science lessons and try to find ways to teach the same things to your kids. If you teach young children like I do, you may have to alter it in some ways to make it age-appropriate, but the concepts are still there.
There are so many wonderful science activities you can do with your home daycare students. For more ideas, check these out:
- Candy Cane Math and Science Activities for Preschool
- Kids Nature Activities and Bug Facts
- Lava Lamp Science for Preschool
- Daycare Garden Activities for Toddlers
And for more inspiration for home daycare activities, check these ideas out:
- Mess Free Activities for Toddlers
- 25 Calming Activities for Kids
- Home Daycare Activities (That You Can Prep in 5 Minutes or Less)
- 16 Fun Activities to Teach Gratitude to Children
- Home Daycare Activities
- Planning Home Daycare Activities
Catapult design popsicle stick
This catapult design makes one catapult from popsicle sticks.
Popsicle Stick Catapult
Ingredients
- 9 popsicle or craft sticks
- 5 rubber bands
- 1 plastic spoon
- Small ball to fit inside the spoon we used foam balls
Instructions
- Attach the spoon to one of the craft sticks using two rubber bands. You need to make sure that the bend in the spoon handle is over the end of the craft stick.
- One rubber band will need to be at the base of the handle, and the other, about ½ inch – 1 inch from the end of the craft stick (depending on what size stick you are using)
- Secure 7 of the craft sticks together using two of the rubber bands.
- Place one craft stick underneath the craft stick with the spoon attached to it, and secure them together with a rubber band.
- Gently separate the two craft sticks, and push the stack of 7 craft sticks through them.
- Place a small ball into the spoon, and press down on the tip of the spoon to launch.
For more ideas using craft sticks, check these out:
