Middle School Physics Fall STEM Lab: 3-page packet on elastic potential energy, lever fulcrum advantage, trajectory angles, & launch math.
Launch into ballistics physics, elastic potential energy, and projectile mechanics! The Candy Corn Catapult STEM 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, setup guide, expected student outcomes, answer keys, and math troubleshooting tips.
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), and a 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), and physics reflection questions.
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!
Print-Ready: High-resolution, 3-page PDF format ready for instant printing.
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