Thanksgiving Popcorn Catapult: Launch Popcorn and Measure the Distance

The kids’ table gets restless while the turkey rests. Hand out craft sticks, rubber bands and a bowl of popcorn, and give them a mission: build a catapult and launch popcorn into the turkey bowl. They’ll learn how levers work, and the floor will learn what popcorn feels like.

Thanksgiving Harvest Popcorn Mix

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Servings: 6 cups

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 6 cups popped popcorn
• 1/2 cup mini pretzels
• 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1 tablespoon butter melted
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Equipment

• Large bowl
• Pot with lid

Method

 

1. Put the popcorn, pretzels, seeds and cranberries in a large bowl.
2. Mix the melted butter, maple and cinnamon.
3. Drizzle over and toss well. Serve in a turkey bowl.

Notes

Popcorn and pretzels are choking hazards for children under 4. Make extra: some will end up on the floor.

What Kids Will Discover

Kids learn about levers, one of the simple machines. A catapult uses a lever, a pivot point called a fulcrum, and stored energy in a bent stick or rubber band.

Ages, Time and Mess Level

• Best for: ages 5 to 12
• Time: 30 minutes
• Mess level: medium (flying popcorn!)
• Grown-up job: popping the popcorn

Build the Catapult

1. Stack 7 craft sticks and wrap a rubber band tightly around each end.
2. Take 2 more sticks and wrap a rubber band around one end only.
3. Gently open the two loose ends and slide the stack of 7 between them, near the banded end, to make a “V”.
4. Wrap a rubber band around the crossing point to hold it.
5. Tape a plastic spoon or bottle cap to the top stick as the launch bucket.

The Challenge

1. Put the turkey bowl 3 feet (1 meter) away.
2. Load one popcorn piece, press down and let go.
3. Measure each launch distance with a tape measure.
4. Score a point for every popcorn that lands in the bowl.
5. Improve: move the stack closer to or further from the end. Does it launch further?

The Science, in Kid Words

When you push down the top stick, it bends and stores energy, like a stretched spring. When you let go, that energy flings the spoon up, and the popcorn flies. The stack of sticks is the fulcrum, the point the stick pivots on. Moving the fulcrum changes how far and how high the popcorn goes. Engineers use levers in everything from seesaws to cranes.

For grown-ups

The Institution of Engineering and Technology’s popsicle stick catapult resource uses the same design to teach levers, fulcrums and energy transfer, including how changing the fulcrum position affects range.

Change One Thing

• Fulcrum position: move the stack and compare distances.
• Ammo: popcorn vs pumpkin seeds vs a dried cranberry. Which flies furthest?
• Angle: launch from a book. Does height help?

Make It a STEAM Day

• Math: chart distances and find the best of 5.
• Engineering: next, try our Gingerbread House Earthquake Challenge.
• More: all our Thanksgiving Science Experiments You Can Eat.

Safety Notes

• Never aim at faces or people.
• Popcorn and pretzels are choking hazards for children under 4.
• Grown-ups pop the popcorn.

FAQ

How do you make a popsicle stick catapult?

Band a stack of 7 sticks, band 2 sticks at one end, slide the stack between them and tape a spoon on top.

What is a fulcrum?

The point a lever pivots on. In this catapult it’s the stack of sticks.

How do I make the catapult launch further?

Move the fulcrum closer to the end, press down further, or use a stronger rubber band.

Is this safe for a kids’ table?

Yes, with soft ammo like popcorn and a “no aiming at people” rule.

What age is this activity for?

From about 5 with help building; older kids can measure and improve designs.

In Conclusion

A few craft sticks and some popcorn turn the kids’ table into an engineering lab. Build, launch, measure, and save some popcorn for snacking.