Catapult Math

Catapults are cool. Math is cool. So when we put the two together, it felt like we reached a place. An ethereal place, if you will. Ok, maybe that was a tad dramatic. For sure though, it was fun and the kids thoroughly enjoyed each step of the process. From making the catapults to completing equations, the kids experienced a delightful intersection of math and science; a place where gaming and playfulness teach some fundamental concepts of math and physics. I imagine that does hold a place in the cosmos...

Essentially, the game is played like this:

1. Lay the board on the floor. One person decides whether they want to add or subtract. Place a pom in the circle containing the appropriate symbol.

2. Use your catapult to aim for a spot within the target. Once two numbers have been landed on, respectively add or subtract those numbers. TA-DA!

There are a bunch of ways this game could be played. A more casual approach is simply to see who hits the "30" first. Coming up with the game rules is part of the fun and enhances the overall learning capacity of this board. Have fun with it!

Creating the catapults was also fun! We certainly did not come up with this idea and there are many available instructions online.

<