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How to Make a Toy Catapult

Catapults are excellent training tools for children to learn about weight ratios, momentum and history. Catapults are also tremendous fun as long as there is proper adult supervision during catapult play. What better way to assault a cardboard castle with sugar cube walls? With the right materials and proper supervision, you can build your own toy catapult.

Things You'll Need

Pinewood Derby car kit
Screwdriver and hammer
Thin 1 inch wood screws or nails
2 horseshoe nails ½ inch wide
3 inch wooden dowel, 2 inches long
Thick wooden soup spoon at least 7 inches in length
10 -- 20 large rubber bands

Instructions

- 1
  Assemble the pine wood derby car's four wheels onto the block of wood that represents the car's body. This is the base for your catapult. Usually, the kit comes with nails or screws to attach the wheels. The car will measure 7 inches long and 1 and 3/4 on an inch wide.
- 2
  Lay the wooden spoon on the wooden dowel. Make sure to have at least 85 percent of the spoon (head side) on one side of the dowel. Hammer in the horseshoe nails on top of the spoon securing it to the dowel.
- 3
  Lay the wooden dowel at the cutout section of the soapbox derby car. If there is no cutout section, hammer on the middle of the car, creating a saddle for the wooden dowel.
- 4
  Stretch rubber bands around the short side of the spoon. This will allow the spoon section to shoot forward when pulled. Add a few rubber bands to the long side of the catapult to keep the spoon and dowel secure.The wooden dowel will rotate as the spoon rotates forward - after being pulled back and released.
- 5
  Decorate at your discretion and enjoy.

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