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To determine which maker project to select, I thought about what my students might find interesting that they could compete with but also tie in some algebra topics. This led me to the popsicle stick catapult! My students could try to make a catapult that went the furthest.

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The purpose of this activity would be for students to decide what factors influenced the distance of the cotton ball. We could further this activity by tying in more algebraic concepts such as identifying what type of function the data created compared to time.

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I then started to think about what aspects of the catapult would impact the height and distance of the cotton ball. The location of the bottle cap? The amount of pressure placed on the popsicle stick? The type of popsicle stick used (thin or thick ones)? Or the number of popsicle sticks that make the lever?

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I then retrieved all of the materials needed to build the prototype of the popsicle stick catapult. Then I followed the instructions in order to create the prototype.

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How to Make a Popsicle Stick Catapult | STEM Activity

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Once the glue dried, I started to test out my catapult. The first time I did not hold down the front of the catapult. This made it challenging to measure the distance accurately and it did not go very far (28 in). Then I tried to hold the front down. It went slightly further and was easier to measure (34 in). Finally, I held the back popsicle stick down further before releasing it. This went much further (48 in).

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8 popsicle sticks (I could only find the large ones)

5 rubber bands

1 bottle cap

1 cotton ball

Glue

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I stacked 6 popsicle sticks on top of one another. I then wrapped a rubber band around each end.

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I put another popsicle stick perpendicular to the stack of popsicle sticks. Then I wrapped two rubber bands around them to make an x to keep it perpendicular. This is a picture after the first rubber band was placed.

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After the second rubber band was placed to create the x to make it stay perpendicular to the stack.

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I then had to put another popsicle stick underneath the stack and slide the rubber bands around it. This was taken after one rubber band was around it.

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This was after the top and bottom popsicle sticks were both secured with the rubber bands perpendicular to the stack of popsicle sticks.

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I was then able to rubber band the top and bottom popsicle sticks together on one side.

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Finally, I was ready to glue the bottle cap to the other side that was not rubber banded together. I used wood glue to help it stay on the popsicle stick.

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Ready for testing! (once the glue dried)

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I did not hold down the front of the catapult. The cotton ball went 28 inches.

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This time I held down the front for more stability but applied approximately the same amount of pressure. This went 34 inches.

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Finally, while still holding down on the front, I applied more pressure to the back before I released the catapult. This went much further (48 inches)!