Wacky Wednesday: Protect Your Castle!

Be the architect of your own Fairy Tale Castle! Make it big and strong, and then put it to the test. Will it be sturdy enough to withstand a catapult attack?

Materials:

Materials for Castle:

• Cardboard*
• Paint and/or markers
• Tape 
• Scissors

* If cardboard isn't readily available, use toys to make a tower/castle and see if you can knock it down with your catapult!

Materials for Catapult:

• Nine Popsicle sticks
• Five rubber bands
• One plastic (or metal) spoon
• Marshmallows/ping pong balls/any small, light object

Instructions:

Decorate Your Castle:

Use the materials you have on hand at home to construct a castle. If you are using cardboard, try folding back two flaps to make a three-sided castle. Use scissors and paint or markers to create castle features, such as battlements with crenels and merlons. Want to know what those funky words mean? We recommend visiting www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/castles/defence to learn all about castles. If you don't have cardboard at home, use Legos and other toys to build castle walls and turrets!

Build Your Catapult:

Step One:

Make a stack of seven Popsicle sticks and use rubber bands to secure the Popsicle sticks together on both ends of the stack. ​

Step Two:

Make another stack of two Popsicle sticks and use a rubber band to secure ​one end of this stack.

Step Three:

Next, pull apart the stack of two popsicles and wedge the stack of seven Popsicle sticks between them.

Step Four:

Use two rubber bands to secure the plastic spoon onto the top Popsicle stick, and now your catapult is complete! To use it, load a marshmallow or other small, light object onto the spoon. Hold the catapult with one hand while using your other hand to push down on the spoon. Release the spoon and watch your marshmallow fly! Launch marshmallows at your castle. Can you knock it down? Or did you build an impenetrable fortress? We hope you have fun finding out!

Looking for more fun creative activities this summer? Use your Basalt Library card to access arts and crafts classes from CreativeBug!