Make a coat hanger catapult in less than 5 minutes! This is a cool DIY toy for kids and doubles as a STEM/STEAM activity.
Note: This activity is designed for use under adult supervision. Using hard objects like rocks in the catapult unsupervised may result in broken windows or injuries.
Not long ago I went into our local craft supply store and discovered pom poms on sale, and I love pom poms! Needless to say I couldn’t decide on which colours and sizes to choose so I went a bit nuts. Now I have way too many pom poms! What to do with them all?
I decided to make the kids a catapult each from our surplus of wire coat hangers (we’ve been on a decluttering mission this year and our wardrobes are a lot lighter). Pom poms make the perfect ammunition because they are soft so you can use them both indoors and outdoors, and no windows will get broken nor will any injuries occur. Plus they are so fluffy and irresistible.
Next step was to create an ammunition holder to store all the pom poms within easy reach. The ever-versatile paper cup makes a good one, and a length of ribbon makes the perfect shoulder strap.
My kids love their new coat hanger catapults! Want to make one for your kids too?
It’s easy – watch the quick video tutorial or scroll down for a written explanation.
How to make a coat hanger catapult
You will need:
• a wire coat hanger
• pom poms – we’ve used assorted sizes from 3-5cm in diameter
• hat elastic
• paper cup
• ribbon
• hole punch
• scissors
How to:
- Bend your coat hanger into a diamond shape and fold the hooked edge inwards so that it doesn’t stick out dangerously.
- Tie a piece of hat elastic across the centre of your coat hanger.
- Punch a hole in the top of one side of your paper cup, and then another hole on the side opposite to it.
- Tie a length of ribbon long enough to go around your child’s shoulder comfortably through the holes.
- Fill with pom poms.
- Head outside and play!
Told you it was easy!
More fun STEM/STEAM craft ideas:
• Make a balloon-powered sponge boat
• Is it hot outside? This DIY solar oven from a cardboard box is great way to make use of the heat
• Create your own ipod speaker from cardboard tubes
• Make some amazing hand bubbles!
You can find lots more ideas on our STEAM for kids board on Pinterest
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Hi. What other descriptors might I use when searching for hat elastic? Is is 3mm elastic cord, or something else? Did yours have the little tabs on the end? And did you simply tie it to the hanger? I’d like to do this for a grade level (about 150 people).
I’ve just tied it very tightly. The rubber coating on our coat hangers helps with a non-slip grip though, so if you are using ordinary wire hangers maybe try a little duct tape at the corners to help make it non-slip, or it may help to hold it in place with a small piece of duct tape (but over the top of a tightly tied knot). This is the most similar elastic product I could find on Amazon, it’s just a thin strand of cord elastic, but 3mm wide elastic should also work – just so long as it’s stretchy. https://amzn.to/2JNFAcE
Hope the kids have fun 🙂