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Teaching Science with Lynda R. Williams

Elementary Science Ideas, Lessons, and Resources

STEM catapult

STEM Challenge: Build a Catapult

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Description

Students will design and build a catapult. Students will learn about mangonels and trebuchets. Using the design process, students will build a catapult, test it, evaluate it according to the criteria and constraints, compare it with other design solutions, and improve their own design solutions. Students will learn about the mangonel which uses tension to power the launch and the trebuchet which uses a counterweight and gravity to launch the projectile. Students will love this engaging STEM activity and they will love learning about these two mechanisms for launching a projectile.

Students will learn about planning an investigation and identifying independent, dependent, and control variables. Students will evaluate design solutions to see if they meet the criteria and constraints.

This unit includes:

  • A slide show on trebuchets and mangonels
  • Information on planning an investigation
  • Information on criteria and constraints
  • Strategic note-taking guide
  • Follow-up pages

This is a great, engaging engineering unit perfect for upper elementary or middle school science.

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As always, Lynda provides perfect alignment with the standards.

 
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Sharon M

As always, Lynda provides perfect alignment with the standards.   Age of the Earth and Geologic Time Scale NGSS MS ESS1-4
Thank you so much for creating this resource! It is such a fun and engaging activity for my students, especially during distance learning.

 
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Thank you so much for creating this resource! It is such a fun and engaging activity for my students, especially during distance learning.   Honey Bee Digital Escape Distance Learning
My students loved this unit. I was able to present different elements of it throughout the month. It is hard to find interesting non-fictional, age-appropriate text for my students that they will enjoy. This was a great unit that aligned well for my students who have very different goals within the same group.

 
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Heidi J

My students loved this unit. I was able to present different elements of it throughout the month. It is hard to find interesting non-fictional, age-appropriate text for my students that they will enjoy. This was a great unit that aligned well for my students who have very different goals within the same group.   Compare and Contrast Two Texts on Reindeer
I am so impressed with this unit which manages to be distance learning and hands-on at the same time.  Really well thought out and engaging activities that allow students to practice each of the eight Science and Engineering Practices.  Really no prep for me!

 
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Tina S

I am so impressed with this unit which manages to be distance learning and hands-on at the same time.  Really well thought out and engaging activities that allow students to practice each of the eight Science and Engineering Practices.  Really no prep for me!   Science and Engineering Practices Distance Education Unit
The elephant article was excellent but I also thought the lab on dissecting a flower was broken down so easily, even telling me where to get inexpensive flowers!  This resource helped me teach this challenging standard in an engaging way.  Worth every penny!

 
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Richard S

The elephant article was excellent but I also thought the lab on dissecting a flower was broken down so easily, even telling me where to get inexpensive flowers!  This resource helped me teach this challenging standard in an engaging way.  Worth every penny!   Structure and Function NGSS 4-LS1-1 and 4-LS1-2
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Teaching Science with Lynda R. Williams

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