Candy Corn Catapults - A fun Fall themed activity for Grades 3-6

Looking for an engaging way to introduce your students to basic physics principles? The Candy Corn Catapult STEM Challenge is a fantastic project that combines engineering, creativity, and competition. Students will design and build their own catapults using simple materials, then launch candy corn to explore concepts like force, motion, and angles. Plus, it’s budget-friendly, costing just around $3 per student!

Supplies Needed:

• Popsicle sticks (about 7-10 per student)
• Rubber bands (4-6 per student)
• Plastic spoons (1 per student)
  • (Or use recycled plastic bottle lids)
• Candy corn (for launching)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Step 1: Build the Base Start by having students stack 6-8 popsicle sticks on top of each other. Secure both ends of the stack with rubber bands. This stack will serve as the catapult's base and give it the height it needs for launching.

Step 2: Prepare the Lever Arm Take two more popsicle sticks and stack them together. Secure only one end of this stack with a rubber band, leaving the other end loose. This will create the lever arm that will allow the catapult to launch candy corn.

Step 3: Combine the Base and Lever Slide the stack of two popsicle sticks (the lever) through the center of the base stack (between the popsicle sticks), positioning it like a see-saw. Attach a plastic spoon to the loose end of the lever arm using another rubber band. The spoon will act as the basket to hold and launch the candy corn.

Step 4: Test and Adjust Now it's time to test the catapult! Place a piece of candy corn in the spoon, push down on the end of the lever, and release. Have students experiment with the tension in the rubber bands or adjust the angle of the catapult to improve the distance and accuracy of their launches.

Here's a YouTube link for a separate type of catapult you can also build with visual instructions: 

How to Turn It into a STEM Challenge:

Challenge 1: Distance Launch Once students have built their catapults, challenge them to see who can launch their candy corn the farthest. Use a tape measure to track the distance each candy corn travels, and have students compare their designs to determine which ones are most effective.

Challenge 2: Accuracy Target Set up a target zone (use a paper plate or a drawn circle on the floor) and have students aim for it. Each student gets three attempts, and they can adjust their catapults between tries to improve accuracy.

Challenge 3: Iteration and Redesign Encourage students to make changes to their designs to improve their catapult's performance. This could include changing the number of popsicle sticks, adjusting the position of the spoon, or adding more rubber bands for increased tension.

Learning Objectives:

• Force and Motion: Students will learn how force applied to the lever arm causes the spoon to move, launching the candy corn. By adjusting the rubber bands, they can increase or decrease the force and observe the effects.
• Angles and Trajectories: As students experiment with different launch angles, they will observe how the angle affects the candy corn's trajectory and distance.
• Engineering and Problem-Solving: Students will engage in hands-on learning as they build, test, and redesign their catapults, gaining insight into engineering principles and creative problem-solving.

Tips for Teachers:

• Discussion Points: After the challenge, discuss how different design elements affected performance. Ask students what changes they made to improve their catapult and what they learned from the process.
• Teamwork: Consider having students work in pairs or small groups to promote collaboration, brainstorming, and sharing of ideas.
• STEM Extension: Connect the catapult challenge to lessons on medieval history or explore other real-world applications of catapult mechanisms in physics or engineering.

Why We Love This Project:

• Hands-on learning: This activity gives students the opportunity to design, build, and test their creations, turning abstract physics concepts into tangible experiences.
• Creative and fun: The addition of candy corn makes it festive and exciting, perfect for a fall STEM lesson!
• Competition: Adding a challenge component keeps students engaged and motivated to iterate and improve their designs.

This Candy Corn Catapult STEM Challenge is a perfect way to spark curiosity and excitement for STEM subjects while giving students a fun and interactive learning experience. Give it a try this fall, and watch your classroom transform into a mini engineering workshop!