Valentine Spoon Catapults

Valentine, you make my heart soar! Literally!! 

What's more fun than eating candy hearts? Launching them of course! I think they taste like chalk anyways, lol! In today's post, I'm sharing a fun activity for your students this Valentine's Day! These little kits are easy to assemble, cheap (you might already have everything on hand with the exception of the hearts) and it's SO ENGAGING!

First step is to assemble the bags. Ziploc bags are perfect for dividing supplies during COVID and even more helpful if you're sending the kits home with students! You'll need popsicle sticks (small work fine but large work even better!), rubber bands, plastic spoons, and candy hearts. I added some cute labels, if you'd like to use them as gift tags :)

Just like any other science activity, this is NOT a free-for-all. Please make sure to have a discussion ahead of time regarding safety and set up your classroom parameters for launching. Or if you're sending the kits home, have a chat via zoom first! 

In this kit, I've included visual instructions for making a basic spoon catapult. There are different ways to make them, so you can investigate further if you want to change things up. Here's a quick video showing the catapults using large popsicle sticks.

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Once students have built their catapults, we draw the design and write about how the catapult works. Then it's time to test the catapult with the recording page!

​After launching, engage in discussion about this simple machine. Follow up with a talk about strategy and design improvement. You could even test out theories together as a group! 

I also included a How To template so students can share their newly acquired skill with others! Authentic literacy at its finest! I hope this activity gets your kids moving, learning, and brings a BIG smile to their face! You can find my Valentine Spoon Catapult activity HERE!

Happy Teaching!
​XOXO Samantha Henry

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