1. Have students put on goggles and align teams of students
along one side of a set of long tables or a counter so the
catapults are aimed across the room. Provide at least 20 feet of
open space in front of launching area for a landing area. 2.
Make a catapult by taping a spoon against the edge of a table,
perpendicular to the tabletop with the bowl of the spoon facing
toward the table. 3. Mark the marshmallow for identification.
Hold the marshmallow in the bowl of the spoon. Use your thumb to
help anchor the spoon handle against the table. Keeping the end
of the spoon handle against the table, launch the marshmallow
across the room. (Don't point it at anyone!) 4. Experiment with
the catapult. Try pulling the spoon back farther (change the
angle).What happens if you change the weight/size of the
marshmallow? How could you do that? Which technique makes the
marshmallow go farther? Higher? 5. Determine the "best" angle
for launching the marshmallow the farthest. Pull the spoon back
- we'll call this the deflect