STEM challenge for kids – build a catapult out of popsicle sticks!

Here’s a fun (and effective) catapult to build out of popsicle sticks, hot glue, and a few other basic household supplies. We’ve been having a blast with this little contraption!

The catapult’s arm is attached to a segment of a straw that rotates around a bamboo skewer. To shoot the catapult, hold down the frame with one hand while firmly (and quickly!) pressing down the arm with the other hand.

This may be the most effective catapult we have ever built. It shoots really far!

Here’s what you need to make one:

We have been shooting Nerf Rival balls with our catapults, and they work great! They are super lightweight, yet still fun. If you don’t have any of those, pom pom balls work just as well. If you want something with a little more power to it, we also had good success with small wooden beads. (Just be safe, okay?)

Step 1: Grab 6 sticks and warm up the glue gun. I actually used some mini popsicle sticks for my instruction photos and then made a catapult with full size popsicle sticks afterwards. The process is the same. I think I like the full size popsicle stick catapult better, but both of them work well!

Step 2: Make two triangles by gluing three craft sticks together. Then grab a straw and a bamboo skewer.

Step 3: Cut a piece from the bamboo skewer. Then cut a shorter segment from the straw.

Step 4: Hot glue the skewer to each of the triangles.

Step 5: Glue a couple of sticks to the base of the catapult for stability.

Step 6: Glue a wide craft stick to the straw to create the shooting arm of the catapult.

Step 7: Cut a paper cup so that there is just an inch or two left at the bottom. Glue a second wide craft stick to the catapult and then glue on the cup.

Now you’re ready to try it out! Here’s the larger version that I created out of regular size popsicle sticks.

If you use full size popsicle sticks (the size I linked to in the supply list), you’ll need to add one more stick across the front of the catapult. Kids can experiment with the position of this final stick so that it stops the shooting arm at the best position for launching the ball.

Need more STEM ideas?

Have fun tinkering!

16 Comments

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  1. Zainub Oct 10, 2018

    How far does is shoot ?

    Reply
  2. Rebecca Walker Dec 17, 2018

    this helped me with a ascience project

    Reply
  3. Emily Wilson Feb 5, 2019

    I have to build a catapult to shoot a rubber ducky for class, and I was freaking out, but this is gonna help a LOT!! THANK YOU!!!!

    Reply
  4. Emily Wilson Feb 11, 2019

    Hi again. I just wanted to thank you for giving me this idea.

    Reply
  5. Devyn Berry Feb 24, 2019

    I am gonna use this for a science project but will it hold heavier things like a softball.

    Reply
    1. Lizzie Jun 25, 2019

      It helped me for my project too!?☺thsnks

      Reply
  6. Devyn Feb 27, 2019

    me too

    Reply
  7. bPender Apr 15, 2019

    Awesome! I'm using it to help my class see how different masses but the same force changes the distance an object will fly! Thank you! :-)

    Reply
  8. Thanks Alot Aug 25, 2019

    Thanks a lot for this idea, I really needed a sturdy catapult for my Engineering class!

    Reply
  9. Ken Sangler May 3, 2020

    Great! This really helped. I built a scale model to 30 feet for my Science project. It launched a ball 600 feet!

    Reply
  10. Question May 14, 2020

    Could I use giant popsicle sticks?

    Reply
  11. Ming Li Jun 15, 2020

    Thank you. This is so useful

    Reply
  12. 18kyled Jun 22, 2020

    this helped me with my technology project. THANKS!

    Reply
  13. yungking Oct 27, 2020

    Very helpful for my physics project... THANK YOU.

    Reply
  14. SkylarWright Nov 8, 2020

    I made this for a project worth 30% of my mark. THANKS

    Reply
  15. Annika Ball Jan 19, 2021

    THANK YOU!!! I used it for a school project.

    Reply
  16. Marinette Apr 14, 2021

    I'm gonna do this for my science project!

    Reply

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