Fall STEM Activity: Candy Corn Catapult Challenge (FALL03)

Bring elastic potential energy, lever mechanics, fulcrum position advantages, parabolic trajectories, launch angle vectors, and average distance math to life with the Fall STEM Activity: Candy Corn Catapult Challenge (FALL03)! Designed for Middle School Physical Science, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Math, and STEM classes across Grades 6–8, this 3-page, print-ready seasonal lab packet challenges students to engineer craft-stick catapults to launch payloads across target zones.

What Is Included in This 3-Page Packet?

• 📋 Page 1: Teacher Guide & Lesson Plan

  Features NGSS alignment (MS-PS2-2 Forces & Motion, MS-ETS1-2 Engineering Design Solutions), key lever physics concepts, target testing setup instructions, math troubleshooting tips, and a full teacher answer key.

• 🎃 Page 2: Student Mission Card & Blueprint

  Hooks students with a mechanical engineering challenge to design mechanical launching devices for payload delivery. Includes material constraints (wooden craft sticks, rubber bands, plastic spoon, masking tape, meter stick) and a dedicated schematic sketching zone to diagram lever fulcrum placement, rubber band tension vectors, and release angle trajectories.

• 📊 Page 3: Testing Log & Scientific Reflection

  Features a structured lab data table tracking fulcrum positioning, launch angle estimates, and launch distance in centimeters or meters across 3 trials. Includes an applied math section to calculate Average Launch Distance across testing trials, followed by reflection questions analyzing elastic potential energy storage, lever arm torque mechanical advantage, and trajectory optimization.

Educational Value & Key Benefits:

• Hands-On Seasonal Physics: Connects rubber band strain and fulcrum placement directly to projectile velocity and launch distance.

• Integrates Applied Math & Data Averaging: Teaches students how to record metric launch distances and compute multi-trial averages.

• Low-Cost High-Engagement STEM: Uses inexpensive supplies like craft sticks, rubber bands, plastic spoons, tape, and candy corn for a competitive autumn physics activity across Grades 6–8.