Fun with catapults at MMS

Fun with catapults at MMS

The purpose of the project was to give students the challenge of creating a catapult capable of launching a ping pong ball at least eight feet. Students gained experience in going through the steps of the scientific method, incorporating math to create graphs to display the data they collected at home & school, engineering concepts to modify or redesign their working model, and technology to research how to build a catapult/ understanding the purpose of a catapult.

Students were not limited in regards to the size or materials used to create their catapult. Catapults were brought to school on Tuesday, Oct. 4, and Friday, Oct. 7, to test. The catapults varied in size and shape. Several were made from PVC pipes, wood, Popsicle sticks and even Legos. One student even built a trebuchet capable of throwing a tennis ball over 100 feet.

The catapult was a great opportunity for students and parents to work and bond over their first major project for the seventh grade, however, the catapult was only a minor portion of the project. Students were also to write a paper following a template for the Scientific Method in which they documented the history of catapults, displayed data, analyzed their results and reflected on the strengths and weaknesses of the project in order to suggest ways to improve.

Students go ‘ medieval’ with project

www.msd3.org

From the Marion School District