How to Make Catapults

We often think of catapults as a weapon from the middle ages.  These can be fun, especially if they are made small.  Follow the simple steps below to learn how to make your own catapult, and don’t be afraid to get creative with it.

Step 1: Take your rubber bands and cut through each of them.  Each band should stay in one piece.

Step 2: Take two of the rubber bands and staple them together.  Put two rubber bands in the stapler side by side, not one on top of the other.

Step 3: Staple the string of the rubber band to the tops of the handle.

Step 4: Attach the handle, making sure it is secure, onto a small wheeled platform.  The platform can be made, or you can use anything small with wheels, such as a pull toy made of wood that children play with.

Step 5: Find items like books, legs, blocks or other things that will help you construct in a cube shape.

Step 6: Find some ammo.  Get a small rock, lego or something to use as projectile.

Step 7: Hold the projectile to the stapled rubber bands securely.

Step 8:  Pull back on the rubber bands.

Step 9: Release the rubber bands and watch your projectile go!

Warnings

• Refrain from aiming your catapults at people or animals.  The device can do serious injury or perhaps death to small animals.

Items Needed

• Rubber bands
• Stapler
• Small wheeled platform
• Books, legs or blocks (for cube construction)
• Projectile