Fall STEM Activity: Candy Corn Catapult Challenge (FALL03) | Physics

🎃 Fall STEM Activity: Candy Corn Catapult Challenge (FALL03) Launch into ballistics physics, elastic potential energy, and projectile mechanics! The Candy Corn Catapult Challenge (FALL03) challenges middle school student teams to act as mechanical engineers, constructing a lever-action launcher using craft sticks, rubber bands, and a spoon to hit distance and accuracy targets using candy corn payloads. Students explore elastic energy transfer, lever fulcrum advantage, projectile trajectory angles, average launch range math, and target precision! 📦 What is Included in This 3-Page Packet: Page 1: Teacher Guide & Lesson Plan: NGSS alignment (MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-2), target science concepts, and material setup guide. Expected student outcomes, answer keys, and math troubleshooting tips. Perfect for your TGM Product Preview! Page 2: Student Mission Card & Blueprint: Real-world mechanical engineering scenario hook. Clear material limits box (craft sticks, rubber bands, plastic spoon, tape, distance launch rule). Dedicated Catapult Frame & Lever Vector Schematic sketching zone. Page 3: Testing Log & Scientific Reflection: Structured Data Testing Table: Track fulcrum positioning, launch angle estimates, and distance in centimeters/meters across 3 trials. Applied Math Connection: Calculate average launch distance across testing trials. Physics Reflection Questions: Analyze elastic energy storage, lever arm length advantages, and trajectory optimization. 📐 Core STEM Skills Covered: Mechanical Engineering & Lever Mechanics Physics Elastic Energy Conversion, Trajectory Angles & Launch Vectors Data Logging, Precision Metric Distance Measurement, and Average Math Calculations Fulcrum Placement and Energy Transfer Optimization 💡 Why Teachers Love This Resource: 3-Page Professional Layout: Includes a complete Page 1 Teacher Guide for seamless prep, keeping student lab sheets clean and ready to print! Low-Cost Materials: Uses simple craft sticks, rubber bands, plastic spoons, masking tape, and candy corn or mini erasers. High-Impact Physics Lab: Makes potential and kinetic energy equations tangible, visual, and highly competitive for Grades 6-8! Format: High-resolution, print-ready PDF format (3 Pages).