Creative Minds Crazy Catapult Challenge Pack
Crazy Catapult
Challenge Pack
An activity pack bursting with ideas and inspirations for
making a crazy catapult and organising a crazy catapult
challenge.
The Crazy Cataputs challenge supports the primary
curriculum in the following areas:
• Design Technology
• Science (Sc1 and Sc4)
• Numeracy (data collection)
… as well as encouraging creative thinking,
problem solving and enterprising skills
Creative Minds Crazy Catapult Challenge Pack
Contents
Challenge rules
Planning
Experiments and Investigations
Levers and Pivots
Elastic Energy
Pyramid Slingshot Catapult
Structure and Stability
Lever Catapult
Places to visit
Creative Designs
Roman Costume
Running a Crazy Catapult Challenge
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Creative Minds Crazy Catapult Challenge Pack
Challenge Rules
The Romans are invading Yorkshire and are planning to attack the forts in the region. You are Roman Engineers and it is
your task to design and build a catapult that will help the Roman army attack.
You will then take part in a Roman Invasion Challenge to test
the effectiveness of your catapult. There are 3 challenges for
your catapult to compete in:
Challenges
1. Most accurate catapult to hit a target at a distance of 5-7m
2. Fastest to destroy a fort wall made of match boxes
3. Craziest and most creative design as decided by our
judge
Rules
•
•
•
•
All catapults must be free-standing.
All catapults must be under 1 metre high.
Marshmallows will be used as missiles and will be
provided at the event, they must not be tampered with.
Catapult must first pass a safety test by host museum.
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Creative Minds Crazy Catapult Challenge Pack
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Creative Minds Crazy Catapult Challenge Pack
The Challenge
Research
(What is the challenge? What are the rules?
Look at websites, books, visit museums)
Design & plan
(Plan and draw designs, select materials, tools
and components)
Make
(Consider health and safety)
Test
(Does it do what its designed for?)
Modify
(Adapt and improve design)
Test
(Have the modifications improved the design?
Does it need further changes?)
Present
(Decorate and Market finished product.
Does it have a name, logo, colour scheme?)
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Creative Minds Crazy Catapult Challenge Pack
Experiments and Investigations
To help you to design the most effective catapult and to investigate the
main principles involved in catapult design, we have included some
experiments -
•
•
•
Strength of catapult structure
Accuracy
Energy transfer
When designing your catapult remember the challenges that it will
have to compete in. The catapult will need to be accurate and fast
firing.
Think about the distance that the marshmallow will need to travel and
design you catapult to an appropriate size. Remember you will need to
transport your catapult to the firing range so make sure it is easy to
move too.
Websites
The following websites have information on catapults or Romans and
are a good source of inspiration.
http://www.catapults.info
http://www.knightforhire.com/catapult.htm
http://members.iinet.net.au/~rmine/gctrebs.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/tech_01.shtml
http://web.grinnell.edu/techstudies/vick/index.html
http://www.open2.net/diyscience/mangonel/
http://www.arch.wyjs.org.uk/AdvSrv/RomanWeb/Introduction.html
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Creative Minds Crazy Catapult Challenge Pack
Levers and Pivots
Levers are made up of 3 parts;
•
A fulcrum – the point at which the lever pivots or turns
•
The load – the stuff you are trying to move
•
The force – the effort it takes to move the load
A Lever allows you to move a large load using a small amount of effort. The further
the effort (or force) is from the fulcrum, the easier a lever is to move. Therefore
generally long levers work best and usually can turn a small effort into a much larger
one.
There are 3 classes or types of lever:
Class 1 lever : This is where the fulcrum is between the effort and the load, e.g. a
see saw. If you push down on one end (effort) it will raise the load on the other end.
Class 2 lever : In this case the load is between the fulcrum and the effort, e.g. a
wheelbarrow. You pull up on the handles (effort) to raise the load in the middle and
the wheel (fulcrum) is at the end.
Class 3 lever : The effort is between the fulcrum and the load, e.g. a fishing rod.
One hand acts as the pivot (fulcrum), the other hand is placed in the middle of the
rod and pulls (effort) and the fish (load) is hanging off the end.
Fulcrum Challenge
You will need:
•
icelolly stick
•
metre stick or measuring tape
•
CheeriOs or other cereal
•
pencil
•
pen
Method
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Place the icelolly stick across the pencil
•
Put a piece of cereal on the end of the stick that is touching the table.
•
Mark the point on the icelolly stick where it is balancing on the pencil (the
fulcrum) with a number 1
•
Flip the cereal by hitting the stick end that is in the air.
•
Record the distance that the cereal traveled.
•
Now move the fulcrum, mark with the number 2 and do the experiment again.
•
Keep repeating the experiment, can you see a pattern emerging?
Extension
Place a plastic cup some distance from the catapult, experiment adjusting the
position of the fulcrum until you can accurately get your cereal into the cup.
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Creative Minds Crazy Catapult Challenge Pack
Elastic Energy
In this experiment we are going to investigate the power of an elastic band
You will need :
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Elastic bands
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Margarine tub
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Weights or some sand
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Stool or a chair
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Tape measure
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Ruler
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Pencil
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A4 Paper
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Masking tape
Method
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Mark the A4 paper at 2cm intervals along the short sides of the
paper. Draw lines across the paper so it looks like this.
•
Tape the paper to the floor.
•
Put the elastic band under the bottom of the front stool legs so
that it is stretched across the 2 legs.
•
Place the stool so the stretched elastic band lines up with the edge of the
paper.
•
Place some weights into the margarine tub (these are just to stop the
margarine tub flying when you catapult it, you will only need about 100g).
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Place the margarine tub against the elastic band.
•
Pull back the margarine tub against the elastic band until you reach the first
marking on the paper, let go and watch it travel.
•
Measure the distance the tub traveled. Record the distance.
•
Repeat the experiment, this time pulling back to the second mark on the paper.
•
Keep repeating the experiment each time pulling the tub back to the next mark.
•
Plot a graph of your results.
Things to think about
•
What happens if you use a thicker or thinner elastic band?
•
If you change the weight in the tub what will happen?
•
If you keep pulling the tub back to the same point does the tub travel the same
distance each time?
•
What happens if you use more than one elastic band?
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Creative Minds Crazy Catapult Challenge Pack
Pyramid Catapult
You will need :
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6 garden canes
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plastic cup
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elastic bands
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marshmallows
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pencil
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blu tac or plasticine
Method
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Arrange 3 of the garden canes into a triangle with the
ends over lapping, secure the ends using the elastic
bands.
Using the 3 remaining canes, attach a cane at each joint,
then join these 3 canes together to give a free-standing
pyramid shape
•
Using the blutac and pencil make a hole in the top of the plastic cup, then
make 2 more holes in the cup so that you have 3 holes in the cup equally
spread around the rim.
•
Pass elastic bands through the holes and tie them on.
Attach the free ends of the elastic bands to the 3 corners of the pyramid so that the cup is suspended in
the centre.
•
Fire the catapult by placing a marshmallow inside
the cup then pulling it back and letting go.
Things to think about
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How far does your catapult fire?
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How could you alter it so it fires further?
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What other modifications could you make to the design to make it better?
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Creative Minds Crazy Catapult Challenge Pack
Structure Strength & Stability
Your catapult will need to be free-standing, use this experiment to investigate how to
make structures stable and strong. N.B. Cocktail sticks have sharp points!
You will need :
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Cocktail sticks
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Marshmallows or jelly sweets
Method
Basic shape 1 – the cube - 12 sticks 8 sweets
•
Start with 4 cocktail sticks and 4 sweets. Poke the
cocktail sticks into the sweets to make a square with a
sweet at each corner.
•
Then poke another stick into the top of each sweet. Put
a sweet on the top of the sticking up cocktail sticks.
Connect the sweets with sticks to form a cube.
Basic Shape 2 – the triangle based pyramid - 6 sticks, 4 sweets
•
Start with 3 sticks and 3 sweets, Poke the sticks into
the sweets and join up to make a triangle.
•
Poke a stick into the top of each sweet then bend
them towards the centre. Poke all three sticks into a sweet
at the top to make a pyramid shape
Basic Shape 3 – the square based pyramid - 8 sticks 5 sweets
•
•
Start with 4 cocktail sticks and 4 sweets. Poke the
cocktail sticks into the sweets to make a square with
a sweet at each corner.
Poke a stick into the top of each sweet then bend
them towards the centre. Poke all four sticks into a
sweet at the top to make a pyramid shape
Now try to build:
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The tallest structure
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The structure that hold the most weight – use coins or 10g masses to measure
•
You could set a challenge with a limit on the number of sticks and sweets you
can use.
Things to think about
• Which shapes have you the most stability?
• What happens when you build a tall structure?
• Is a tall structure better with a large or small base?
• Are triangles better than squares? Why?
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Creative Minds Crazy Catapult Challenge Pack
Lever Catapult
You will need:
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Cardboard
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Pencil
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Plasticine or blutac
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Rubber band (A thicker rubber band provides more tension)
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Plastic spoon
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Masking tape
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Scissors
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Marshmallows
Method
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Cut the cardboard into 2 pieces with the following
approximate sizes:
15cm x 15cm (this is the base) 5cm x 15cm (this is the lever)
•
Fold the 5cm x 15cm piece of cardboard in half so you get a
folded piece 5cm x 7.5cm. This is the lever.
•
Pierce holes (using the pencil and plasticine) in the centre of
each side of the lever.
•
Pierce another small hole in the middle of the 15cm
square cardboard base.
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Cut the rubber band and knot one end.
•
Pull the rubber band up through the cardboard base and through both holes in
the folded cardboard lever. The knotted end of the rubber
band will
be under the cardboard base.
•
Tape one side of the folded cardboard lever to the
base.
•
Knot the other end of the rubber band tightly. The
shorter the length of rubber band between the
knots, the more tension you create in the folded cardboard
lever.
•
Tape the plastic spoon to the upper side of the cardboard with the bowl of the
spoon facing downwards towards the base.
•
Pull the spoon back, put the object to fling into the bowl of the spoon, pull it
back right back and try catapulting.
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Creative Minds Crazy Catapult Challenge Pack
Places to Visit
Below are listing Museums in the region that have activities on Romans or
Roman objects in their collections. Why not visit one of them to gain
inspiration and learn more about the Romans.
Yorkshire Museum & Gardens, Museum Gardens, York, YO1 7FR
Fire Away! The Force of Roman Catapults
In this new workshop children learn about Roman throwing machines. They then
discuss the forces involved in catapults and make their own in groups using a
range of equipment, buying everything they need for their design from the Roman
shop. The session ends in a competition to see which group’s catapult is most
effective at attacking the Brigantes – take cover!
1 hour KS2 £1 per pupil Max of 30 pupils
For bookings telephone: 01904 650 333
e-mail: [email protected]
The Treasurer’s House, Minster Yard, York, YO1 7JL
The Haunted Cellar
Don't go down to the cellars alone! Legend has it that when workmen were
repairing the cellars, they saw a frightening apparition of a group of Roman
legionnaires marching past.
The ghosts were only visible above the knees, as if their lower legs were cut off.
Excavations later revealed that a Roman road ran beneath the cellar floor, just
where the ghostly legionnaires were marching.
Tel (01904) 624247
E-Mail (01904) 647372
Malton Museum, Old Town Hall, Market Place, Malton, N. Yorks, YO17 7LP
Malton Museum is Ryedale's major archaeological museum and is located in the
heart of Malton's Market Place. The renowned Roman Collections are
imaginatively displayed. Explore the objects and evidence displayed from local
excavations, marvel at the products of the potteries Norton and Crambeck and
admire the elegance of the villa at Langton. Discover nearby Orchard Fields where
the ramparts of the Roman Fort can be explored.
Contact Mrs P Wiggle. Ask for details of the Roman Legacy special activities for
primary schools. Teachers Resource Pack and a free planning visit available. Prebooking essential to avoid clashes with other groups Tel: (01653) 695 136.
Ilkley Manor House Art Gallery & Museum, Castle Yard, Church Street, Ilkley
LS29 9DT
Roman Fort of Olicana
The Manor House is one of the oldest buildings in Ilkley and stands in the Roman
Fort of Olicana, which was abandoned in the late 4th/5th century AD. Although the
fort fell into ruins it occupied an important site that also became the focus of
Medieval Ilkley and it is to this period of history that the earliest parts of the Manor
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Creative Minds Crazy Catapult Challenge Pack
House have been dated. Situated in the grounds behind the Manor House is a
small section of ruined walling that was once part of the Western defensive wall of
the Roman Fort Olicana. In order to identify the position of the fort, four plaques
have been put up to mark the approximate positions of the gateways into the fort.
There are three interpretation boards on the site and a 15 minute video in the
museum.
Groups who would like information about education visits should contact Mary
Bentham.
tel. 01943-600066 fax. 01948-817079
Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery, Chequer Road, Doncaster DN1 2AE
Romans and Celts in this Area
A 2 hour long workshop which includes, discussion with costume (including Roman
armour), guided tour of Roman Gallery with activity sheets provided, and
archaeology handling session, led by a Museum Education Officer.
Cost: Free to Doncaster Schools; others pay £50 plus VAT per class.
Available All year round, but book early
Contact: Alison Rodgers, Tel 01302 734288, Fax 01302 735409
[email protected]
Wakefield Museum Wood Street, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 2EW
Wakefield Museum has a display on Romans, which includes artefacts and
information about the Roman site of Lagentium, modern day Castleford.
Resources currently available include a 'Studying the Romans at Wakefield
Museum' teacher's pack, and handling boxes which can be used on site with a
selection of real and replica objects to explore. This includes a set of reproduction
armour. All resources and visits are free.
Tel: 01924 305351
The Colour Museum, 1 Providence Street, Bradford, BD1 2PW
At the Colour Museum we offer a full day's activities involving a craft workshop
making a Roman Centurion's Helmet and a museum visit which can include
information on the use of colour in the Roman period.
For more information, or to book a workshop:
Telephone 01274 390955
e-mail [email protected]
website www.sdc.org.uk
Craven Museum and Gallery, Town Hall, High St. Skipton, BD23 1AH
We offer a half day free visit for up to a class of children based around
investigating archaeological material from Gargrave Roman Villa. The Romans:
this session is based on the National Curriculum for Key Stage 2. It links with the
QCA guidelines for unit 6a, Why have people invaded and settled in Britain in the
past? A Roman case study. Children will have the opportunity to handle and study
a small collection of locally found Roman material as part of a visit to the museum.
Contact: Lorraine Greenald, Museum Officer Tel 01756 706407
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Creative Minds Crazy Catapult Challenge Pack
Crazy Creativity
How are you going to make the most crazy and creative Catapult?
Collect magazines and look at designs of clothes, modes of transport, buildings etc.
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How are the designs creative or crazy?
Find the most crazy and creative designs you can.
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•
•
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Ask people what they think about them, what they like or dislike. Make sure
you write down what they think!
How could you display the data you’ve collected (a pie chart, a tally or a bar
chart)?
What are the most popular design features?
Is there a popular colour or design style?
Now think about design features that could be included in your catapult :
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•
•
•
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What colour will it be?
What shape?
How could you decorate it?
Could it have a theme?
How can you make sure the design doesn’t affect the catapults performance?
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Creative Minds Crazy Catapult Challenge Pack
Running a Catapult Challenge
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•
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Appoint Roman Generals to oversee the proceedings to ensure safety,
measure times and accuracy of catapults and a Caesar who has the final say!
Decide how pupils are going to vote on the craziest/most creative catapult (it
could be a show of hands or a secret ballot).
Set up a missile firing area, which is cordoned off to prevent accidents from
flying marshmallows. You will need to create a target which the missiles have
to hit and a wall which has to be knocked down (use empty drinks cans)
•
Make sure each team has a name
•
Make medals or rosettes for the winners and runners up.
Creative Activities
Activity 1
Ask a group of children to make medals for the winners using air-drying clay,
metallic paint or foil and ribbons.
Activity 2
Ask a group of children to designing
certificates for participants using a design
package on a computer
Activity 3
Ask a group of children to report of the
challenge as if they were a journalist for a
local newspaper, television or radio station.
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Creative Minds Crazy Catapult Challenge Pack
The ‘Creative Minds’ project works with Museums Libraries and
Archives across the Yorkshire and Humber Region, to provide young
people with learning opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering
& Maths (S.T.E.M).
This ground-breaking project is the first of it’s kind in the country and is
managed by Yorkshire Museums Libraries and Archives Council.
Creative Minds is funded by Yorkshire Forward the regional
development agency for the Yorkshire & Humberside region.
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