What others say
Description
Launch student engagement with this Build a Catapult STEM Challenge! Students explore criteria and constraints while learning how mangonels and trebuchets use tension and counterweights to launch projectiles. Using the engineering design process, they’ll plan, build, test, and redesign their catapults—evaluating independent, dependent, and control variables along the way. Perfect for STEM or STEAM classes, this hands-on engineering and physics activity helps build an understanding of forces, motion, and energy through creative design.
This unit includes:
- A slide show on trebuchets and mangonels
- Information on planning an investigation
- Information on criteria and constraints
- Strategic note-taking guide
- Follow-up pages
This is a great, engaging engineering unit perfect for upper elementary or middle school science.
Teachers Love this Resource!
Alyssa ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Extremely Satisfied
My students enjoyed this project so much and learned from their errors! It was awesome to see their problem-solving skills increase throughout! Thank you.
Jennifer ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Extremely Satisfied I work with students with emotional and behavioral disabilities, and the more interactive I can make a lesson, the more successful it will be. Thanks so much for your hard work!
Standards Addressed:
3-5-ETS1-1.
Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
3-5-ETS1-2.
Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
3-5-ETS1-3
Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved
NGSS MS-ETS1-1 Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions
NGSS MS-ETS1-2.Evaluate competing design solutions
using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
NGSS MS-ETS1-3
Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.
NGSS MS-ETS1-4
Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.
SAVE$$ and buy this unit as part of a bundle!
These resources are created by Lynda R. Williams at Teaching Science
Follow me and get news of my new resources. Each new resource is discounted by 50% for the first 24 hours!
See other resources for NGSS Engineering!
STEM Engineering Activities for Elementary School NGSS
Make an Electromagnet STEM Lesson NGSS 3-PS2-3, 3-PS2-4
This resource, including the slide show, is secure and not editable. This is for copyright reasons. This resource is in PDF and PPT format.
STEM Activity Catapult - Build a Catapult Engineering Design Process & STEAM
Highlights
What others say
Save even more with bundles
Description
Launch student engagement with this Build a Catapult STEM Challenge! Students explore criteria and constraints while learning how mangonels and trebuchets use tension and counterweights to launch projectiles. Using the engineering design process, they’ll plan, build, test, and redesign their catapults—evaluating independent, dependent, and control variables along the way. Perfect for STEM or STEAM classes, this hands-on engineering and physics activity helps build an understanding of forces, motion, and energy through creative design.
This unit includes:
- A slide show on trebuchets and mangonels
- Information on planning an investigation
- Information on criteria and constraints
- Strategic note-taking guide
- Follow-up pages
This is a great, engaging engineering unit perfect for upper elementary or middle school science.
Teachers Love this Resource!
Alyssa ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Extremely Satisfied
My students enjoyed this project so much and learned from their errors! It was awesome to see their problem-solving skills increase throughout! Thank you.
Jennifer ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Extremely Satisfied I work with students with emotional and behavioral disabilities, and the more interactive I can make a lesson, the more successful it will be. Thanks so much for your hard work!
Standards Addressed:
3-5-ETS1-1.
Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
3-5-ETS1-2.
Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
3-5-ETS1-3
Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved
NGSS MS-ETS1-1 Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions
NGSS MS-ETS1-2.Evaluate competing design solutions
using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
NGSS MS-ETS1-3
Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.
NGSS MS-ETS1-4
Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.
SAVE$$ and buy this unit as part of a bundle!
These resources are created by Lynda R. Williams at Teaching Science
Follow me and get news of my new resources. Each new resource is discounted by 50% for the first 24 hours!
See other resources for NGSS Engineering!
STEM Engineering Activities for Elementary School NGSS
Make an Electromagnet STEM Lesson NGSS 3-PS2-3, 3-PS2-4
This resource, including the slide show, is secure and not editable. This is for copyright reasons. This resource is in PDF and PPT format.
