Ball Launcher Challenge

Overview

Add a twist to a traditional "build a catapult" engineering project with this fun lesson plan based on the 2018 global Fluor Engineering Challenge. Your students must build a device to launch a ball as far as possible—but they also have to build another device to catch it! With detailed rules and guidelines for a class-wide competition, this lesson is a great way to teach your students about the engineering design process.

NGSS Alignment

This lesson helps students prepare for these Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations:

• MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
• MS-ETS1-4. Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.

This lesson focuses on these aspects of NGSS Three Dimensional Learning:

Science & Engineering Practices	Disciplinary Core Ideas	Crosscutting Concepts
Engaging in Argument from Evidence. Evaluate competing design solutions based on jointly developed and agreed-upon design criteria.	ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions. A solution needs to be tested, and then modified on the basis of the test results, in order to improve it. There are systematic processes for evaluating solutions with respect to how well they meet the criteria and constraints of a problem. ETS1.C: Optimizing the Design Solution. The iterative process of testing the most promising solutions and modifying what is proposed on the basis of the test results leads to greater refinement and ultimately to an optimal solution.	Structure and Function. Structures can be designed to serve particular functions by taking into account properties of different materials, and how materials can be shaped and used.

Materials

Each group will need the following materials:

• Corrugated cardboard base (max size 12"x12" or 30x30 cm)
• Large paper or plastic cups (16–18 oz, or about 450–500 mL)
• Wooden ruler or paint stirrer (12"/30 cm)
• Paper (printer/copier paper, not construction paper or cardstock; letter or A4 size)
• Wooden pencils (circular or hexagonal cross-section, approx. 7–8" or 18–20 cm length)
• Rubber bands (size 32, 3" long unstretched and 1/8" wide)
• Large paper clips (approx. 2" or 50 mm length)
• Roll of clear adhesive tape (Scotch® tape or equivalent, 1/2" or 3/4" width, max length 500")
• Sheet of aluminum foil (12"x12" or 30x30 cm), crumpled into a ball
• Scissors
• Tape measure (can be shared among several groups)