3rd graders learn about kinetic energy with catapults

Third grade learned about kinetic and potential energy.  Then we put them to work with catapults!  We experimented with figuring out how to shoot a foam cube higher vs. farther; how to get the cube to go over an object; and how to try to make it land in a target.  It was a lot of fun!  Here are some photos of the process.

They are using their notes to build the perfect catapult!