Building catapults with craft sticks and rubber bands

A small catapult made from craft sticks turns simple materials into a practical lesson about force, motion, measurement and design. Students can build, test and modify a working model while developing hand strength, coordination, communication and early engineering skills.

This activity suits Australian primary classrooms, homeschool settings and rainy-day learning at home. It can support the Australian Curriculum through Science inquiry, Mathematics measurement and data, and Technologies design processes. With soft projectiles and clear boundaries, it becomes an engaging investigation rather than a competition focused only on distance.

Why this project works

A craft-stick launcher gives children a visible example of stored elastic energy. When a rubber band bends the supporting sticks, energy is held in the structure. Releasing the moving arm transfers that energy to a lightweight object, sending it forward.

The design also encourages children to predict outcomes before testing. They may notice that changing the launch angle, projectile weight or number of rubber bands affects the result. These observations create natural opportunities to use words such as force, friction, tension, trajectory, distance and accuracy.

Materials for a classroom-friendly build

Each small group will need craft sticks, several rubber bands, a plastic spoon or a short section of sturdy cardboard, and soft projectiles such as pom-poms, cotton balls or scrunched paper. A ruler, masking tape, paper targets and recording sheets help students compare results.

Roylco’s craft papers and hands-on learning materials can add colour, labels and recording elements to the activity. For Australian schools, select materials that are easy to source locally and practical for a full class, whether the lesson is taking place in a Sydney classroom, a Melbourne library space or a home learning area in regional Queensland.

Avoid marbles, stones, metal objects and hard plastic pieces. A launcher should never aim at people, animals, windows or ceiling lights. Outdoor testing can work well in a shaded area, but wind, wet grass and high summer temperatures may affect results, so an indoor hall or clear classroom corner may offer more consistent conditions.

A simple catapult design

Start by placing five or six craft sticks into a neat stack and securing both ends with rubber bands. Slide two sticks apart at one end, then place the stacked bundle between them. Fasten the lower sticks near the hinge area so the bundle acts as a base and the upper stick can move like a lever.

Attach a plastic spoon to the upper stick with tape, leaving the bowl facing upwards. Place a pom-pom in the spoon, press the spoon down gently and release it. Children should build slowly and check that the rubber bands are not stretched beyond their safe limit.

Some groups may prefer a tripod-style base using three or four sticks joined into a triangular support. This version introduces stability and balance, while the classic stacked-stick model is usually quicker for younger learners. Adult supervision is particularly important when children are still learning how to control tension.

Testing force, angle and distance

Before launching, ask students to make a prediction. Will a heavier paper ball travel farther than a pom-pom? Will pulling the spoon back a small, medium or large distance create the best result? Keeping one variable unchanged at a time helps children understand fair testing.

Mark a launch line on the floor and measure where each projectile lands. Students can record three trials for each setting, then calculate a simple average or identify the most common distance. In an Australian school term, this can become a short data investigation across several lessons rather than a one-off craft task.

Encourage groups to test accuracy as well as distance. A target made from cardboard circles can represent a supply station, a pretend island or a rover landing zone. The theme can be adapted to a local context, such as delivering a soft “rescue package” across a marked area without touching the boundary.

Troubleshooting common problems

If the catapult barely moves, the base may be too loose, the moving arm may be too heavy or the rubber band may not be positioned correctly. If the structure tips over, add a wider base or reinforce the joints with tape. A spoon that bends or twists can make the results unpredictable.

If the projectile flies too far, reduce the draw distance or switch to a lighter, softer object. If every group gets different results, discuss construction differences and environmental factors. A breezy playground in Perth or a humid afternoon in Brisbane can influence lightweight projectiles, so controlled indoor testing may produce more reliable comparisons.

For product questions or help selecting suitable classroom materials, teachers can contact the Roylco team through the support team. Keeping spare craft sticks and rubber bands nearby also makes repairs quick when a model experiences repeated testing.

Extending the learning

Once the basic model works, invite students to improve it for a specific purpose. They might design a launcher that sends a pom-pom into a cup, travels exactly one metre or uses the fewest materials possible. Teams can sketch their first design, label the parts, test it and then draw a revised version.

Older students can explore proportional reasoning by comparing the number of rubber bands with launch distance. They can investigate how the lever arm changes performance or use a simple chart to compare mean results. Younger learners can focus on sequencing, describing movement and sorting projectiles by size, weight or texture.

The activity also supports conversations about responsible invention. Explain that historical siege engines were designed for dangerous purposes, while this classroom model is a safe way to study mechanical principles. Roylco’s background in hands-on educational products is described on its company information page, which can help educators connect practical making with purposeful learning.

Safety and preparation recommendations

A short safety briefing keeps the focus on discovery and makes classroom management easier. Demonstrate how to hold the model, where to stand and how to wait until the testing area is clear. Establish a retrieval rule so students do not walk in front of an active launcher.

• Use only soft, lightweight projectiles such as pom-poms or cotton balls.
• Create a marked launch zone and keep faces, hands and pets away from the flight path.
• Check rubber bands and craft sticks for splits before every session.
• Ask students to test one launcher at a time while others record observations.
• Store completed models and loose bands where younger children cannot access them unsupervised.

A craft-stick catapult is inexpensive, adaptable and rich in learning possibilities. With careful construction and measured testing, children can turn a handful of everyday materials into a thoughtful investigation of engineering, physics and design.