Fly into the depths of Hallows Eve with our "Pumpkin Launch" S.T.E.A.M activity!
This S.T.E.A.M activity features building a catapult, enabling participants to use creativity and problem solving skills as they work to achieve the farthest launch possible.
Materials:
- Bulk LEGO® pieces, including Technic pieces
- Baseplate (recommended so that you have a sturdy foundation)
- Rubber band
- Ammo (we recommend some of those tasty pumpkin candies from the store, but a few of the plastic LEGO® balls will work too.)
- Measuring Tape
Set Up:
Grab your ghouls and goblins and assemble your pumpkin launching machine! If you need some help starting your catapult, search online for examples! Pinterest may very well be your best friend in this moment. However, only use these examples as a guide so that your little halloweenies are still able to practice through trial and error to reap the true benefits of this S.T.E.A.M activity!!Let's Play:
Now that you've finished building your scary contraption go ahead and send those pumpkins flying! Make adjustments as needed, and work in teams or against one another to see who can launch theirs the farthest. After each round record your results by measuring the distance between the start of the catapult and where your ammo flew to with a measuring tape. Write down your results and compare!
Looking for a fun twist? We know we're all hyped for candy season, so why not take advantage of flying candy? Break into teams and see if one teammate can launch the pumpkin into the other teammates mouth!
Consider this:
- Adding depth to this activity by learning about velocity and how mass and volume influence gravity!
- Completing a "KWL" (Know, Want to know, and Learn) chart about velocity, gravity, and any other applicable topics you choose to highlight.
- Discussing the steps of the Scientific Method and applying each step throughout your S.T.E.A.M experiment!
- Predicting whose catapult will launch the pumpkin the farthest prior to beginning your activity,
- Incorporating various sizes of ammo to further show the difference that weight makes in this experiment. (To stay on point for Halloween consider using different candy bars collected during trick or treating, Halloween themed marshmallows, Candy Corn, or any spooky Minifig you have lying around!)
- Adding an element of history by researching when catapults were first designed and why.
- Implementing mathematics by learning and practicing the steps of conversion from centimeters to inches to feet, etc.
We can't wait to see everything that you do with this activity! Share your experiences on social media, tag us, and use the hashtag #LEGOsteamwithBAM so we can all the fun that you had!