Pom Pom Launcher

Pom pom Launcher

Engineering | 30-45 minutes

In this activity, students will be given a set number of materials and they will design, construct, and test their own pom pom launchers!

Materials Needed

Per student:

  • Pom poms-3

  • Large index cards-2

  • Paper cups-2

  • Tape- 6 inches

  • Straws-3

  • Popsicle sticks-5

  • Plastic spoon- 1

  • Rubber bands-5

  • String- 1 foot

To share:

  • Scissors

  • Staplers

Steps:

  1. The objective of this engineering challenge is to create a pom pom launcher using the materials provided in the time allotted.  It can be hand-held or a table-top model.  The farther it will launch them, the better your launcher is.

  2. Examine the materials at hand and think of a design.  Keep your deadline in mind!

  3. Build it.

  4. Test it.

  5. Modify or refine it.  If it doesn’t work quite right, don’t be discouraged.  Great inventions are never perfect the first time.

  6. Test it again.

  7. Keep refining and testing until you get it just right or run out of time.

Try it!

Create a target or a basket and see how many times you can launch your pom poms into it.

Real World:

Large versions of your launchers were once used in battles in ancient empires like Ancient China and Ancient Rome. Those are called trebuchets. (Treb-you-shays)