It’s cold outside so you need some fun inside ideas.
Channel your kids energy from flicking their food using a fork or spoon at their siblings into making an even better food flicking system. Because what they don’t know is they were making a simple machine –a catapult using a lever and fulcrum.
If they’ve played Angry Birds, they’ll understand the concepts more fully.
Ok, maybe not for food ir bird flicking but I bet your kids are up to the challenge of making their own catapults! Just replace the food with small toys or cotton balls.
Make a Catapult
1. Make a fulcrum – use an empty toilet paper roll or a rolled up and taped newspaper.
2. Make a lever – use a plastic spoon. Attach with a rubber band or tape.
3. Test.
4. Try substituting the plastic spoon with a stick with a glued-on plastic bottle lid or different silverware. See what happens.
Fun, right!?
This teaches kids about force, energy, simple machines and the scientific method.
What will your kids shoot with their catapult?
