Candy Monster Enrichment Activity for FOSS: Flippers Overview:

Build a catapult using materials. The goal of the catapult is to be able to shoot candy into the mouth of the monster.

Suggested Materials (Design your own catapult):  ruler  strong cardboard  glue  yogurt containers  thumb tacks or brass fasteners  heavy object to stabilize the catapult  elastic bands  wooden dowels

Preparing the monster:  Cut a piece of cardboard to be 28 cm wide by 43 cm high.  Cut a mouth that is 15 cm from the ground and is 15 cm in diameter.  Feel free to create a picture of the monster that fits within these dimensions and glue it to the cardboard.

Preparing the contest:  Measure a distance 30 cm from the monster and make a line with tape.  The front part of the catapult must be placed on the line.

Rules:  The catapult must be no larger than 30cm x 30cm x 30cm. Once released, part of the catapult may exceed the dimensions.  Give 10 attempts to get the candy into the mouth of the monster.  The team/person with the most successes, wins. Candy Monster

Game Scenario:

A monster has been roaming the streets of Hershey, searching for life sustaining candy. In the wake of his path is monumental destruction. It is your job to stop him from searching for candy. Appease the beast by building a catapult to feed him.

Step 1:  You have determined the monster’s dimensions. You should build a practice monster, so you know what you will be dealing with.  Your practice monster should be 28 cm wide by 43 cm high.  His mouth is 15 cm from the ground and is 15 cm in diameter.

Step 2:  Peruse the materials that have been given to you by your science teacher.  Design a building plan based upon the materials you have decided to use.  Construct the catapult.

Step 3:  Test and retest your catapult with the practice monster.

Step 4:  Attempt to appease the real monster!