How to Make a Rubber Band Catapult

Build the swinging arm for the catapult. Lay a 12-inch piece of wood on a flat surface. Nail, screw, or glue an eight-inch piece of wood to the near end of 12-inch piece of wood. Angle a six-inch piece of wood downward at a 90-degree angle and attach. Attach a second piece of six-inch piece of wood two inches below the first wooden slat. Nail, screw, or glue to the flat side of the 12-inch piece of wood. Affix the slanted piece of six-inch wood to the straight extended eight-inch piece of wood with your chosen attachment method.

Repeat the process and build another three-piece wooden arm. These pieces form the base sides of the rubber band catapult.

Attach two six-inch pieces of wood to the side bases to form a rectangle with screws or glue. Stand side arms upright, with the attached six-inch piece of wood pointing toward the top of the project.

Attach the four-inch slat two inches above the base front slat with nails or glue. Attach the remaining piece of four-inch long wooden slat two inches above the middle slat, on the backside of the catapult.

Drill a hole a half an inch from the end of the remaining 12-inch long piece of wood. Make a hole only large enough for metal bar.

Screw a teacup hook two-and-a-half inches from the end opposite the teacup hook. Screw the hook along the edge of wooden slat, not the flat side of the 12-inch piece.

Fold the five-inch piece of cardboard material into a box shape. Attach box sides with glue. Glue cardboard box onto wooden slat. Position the box directly against the hook opening.

Place dots of glue on the inside of the side base arms, directly above the nail or screws, used to attach the six-inch wooden slats to the longer base piece.

Slide catapult arm firmly into the base frame, wire side first. Line catapult arm wire bar with glue marks. Press side bases toward wire arm section to secure.

Push the metal bar and the catapult arm 12-inch piece of wood firmly inside the wood frame.

Screw the remaining teacup hook into the front frame piece. Place the rubber band on the catapult arm hook, pulling tightly to gauge placement for second hook. Stretch the rubber band and attach to the second teacup hook for catapult action.

Paint, stain, or decorate the catapult frame and basket.