STEM Fall Pumpkin Catapult - Math & Engineering Activity (Angles and Ratios)
Looking for a pumpkin chunkin’ catapult challenge? Look no further with this fall or Halloween, Thanksgiving, or fall themed STEM catapult activity!
Grades: 4th - 10th; Homeschool
Teaching Duration: 90 minutes
“We weren’t able to use all of the resources included because of the setting I work in. However, the students really enjoyed making the catapult and sending candy flying across the room. :) ”
lesson overview
** Note: This activity is the same as our STEM catapult challenge product, only centered around a fall pumpkin theme**
Looking for a pumpkin chunkin’ catapult challenge? Look no further with this fall or Halloween, Thanksgiving, or fall themed STEM catapult activity!
Click to read more on the Vivify Catapult Challenge
This STEM catapult challenge involves engineering, geometry, ratios, critical thinking, and teamwork in an engaging fall-themed activity your students will love! Using the engineering design process along with math skills, teams of students will build two catapult designs from common materials. Each team will then test at three stations: Distance, Accuracy, and Power. Included are follow-up math problems for enhanced learning including angles, ratios, average, and graphing! One of my favorite STEM activities!
Included in this product:
Teachers guide with links to resources and photos
Editable instruction teacher slides with videos, science background, trivia, and design challenge steps to support classroom or distance learning instruction
Student catapult design sheet
Editable version for Google Slides, Flipgrid, and printed STEM journal
Editable Note to Parents
STEM Career Connection: Mechanical Engineering & Material Engineer
Student recording sheet for each station: accuracy, power (distance), and knocking over a tower
Math connection problems including angles, ratios, and averages, and graphing
Materials: This challenge can be completed with common materials such as craft sticks, rubber bands, ping pong balls, newspapers, cans, etc. Video links provided for instructions on building different versions.
