Siege Engine Basics - Trebuchet

thingiverse

This is a detailed lesson plan for teaching students about simple machines, specifically trebuchets, in 6-8th grade. Here's an overview of the plan: **Objectives:** * Students will incorporate the Engineering Design Process through a hands-on activity that involves math and science. * Students will construct a medieval machine (trebuchet) and perform experiments with distance and mass. **Audience:** 6-8th Grade **Subjects:** * Engineering Design * Mathematical Applications * Motion and Forces * Simple Machines **Skills Learned (Standards):** * Tech/Eng Grades 6-8: 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, and 2.6 **Lesson/Activity:** 1. **Build the Trebuchet:** Students will build a trebuchet using materials provided. 2. **Distance and Mass Activity:** * Students will estimate the weight and circumference of two everyday small objects (mini marshmallow and marble) before measuring them. * Students will roll out white paper and place the catapult or trebuchet on one end, marking its location. * Students will measure the distance traveled by each object after launching it at least three times, recording their measurements in a table. * Students will discuss what they noticed about the distance each object traveled. **Duration:** 2.5 hours **References:** * http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/00627/history.html * http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/time-warp-counterweight-trebuchet.html * http://www.tryengineering.org * http://science.discovery.com/videos/punkin-chunkin-2009-trebuchets.html Overall, this lesson plan aims to engage students in hands-on activities that promote learning about simple machines, math, and science. The trebuchet project allows students to apply their knowledge of levers, mechanical advantage, and motion forces to design and build a medieval machine.