On the go?
Check us out on your mobile device!

qrcode

Activities to Spark Interest in Young Minds

Fun Hands-On Ideas

Building towers from DUPLO and LEGO bricks
Building bridges from straws and paperclips
Building structures from marshmallows and toothpicks
Building marshmallow catapults
Building newspaper catapults
Teaching young children how to drive robots
Demonstrating FLL, FTC, or FRC robots
For more fun activities, visit our Fun Ideas page!

Step-By-Step Videos

Build a newspaper catapult	Make marshmallow structures	Build a clothespin catapult

Step-By-Step Instructions

Marshmallow Catapult

Materials

Cap from a plastic bottle
Tongue depressor/wide craft stick
Clothespin
Small rectangular block of wood (about 11 cm x 6 cm)
Hot glue gun
Scissors
Marshmallows

Building instructions

Cut the tongue depressor/wide craft stick to about 10.5 cm.
Measure 1.7 cm from the rounded end.
Glue the bottle cap on the tongue depressor at that spot.
Glue the tongue depressor to the clothespin - Line up the flat end of the tongue depressor (without the bottle cap) with the groove/metal piece. The bottle cap end will be hanging off the long end of the clothespin.
Glue the bottom of the clothespin onto a block of wood.
Let dry.
Put a marshmallow in the bottle cap and launch.
Have fun!

Newspaper Catapult

Materials:

Section of newspaper
Tablespoon (plastic spoon is fine)
Rubber band
Masking tape
Marshmallows

Building Instructions

Roll a section of newspaper into a tight log.
Wrap a piece of masking tape around the middle of the newspaper.
Take the rubber band and place it under the center of the newspaper.
Take the two ends of the rubber band and lift them around the newspaper log
Place one end through the other end to form a loop – hold the loop.
Place the tablespoon through the loop in the rubber band.
Place a marshmallow on the spoon and launch it.
Have fun!

Sparky Inspiring Young Minds