Objective:
This hands-on winter STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) project will challenge families to design and build their very own snowball launcher. The project encourages critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving, all while enjoying some outdoor fun! If there’s no snow, you can substitute soft foam balls for indoor play.

Materials:

• Cardboard tubes (from paper towels or toilet paper)
• Rubber bands (various sizes)
• Plastic cups
• Tape (duct tape or masking tape works well)
• Scissors
• Hot glue (optional)
• Ruler or measuring tape
• Small snowballs (or foam balls if inside)

Step 1: Design the Launcher

Before building, spend time planning out your snowball launcher. Encourage family members to draw out different designs and decide which elements are needed to make the launcher effective. Think about:

• How will it work? (Rubber bands for tension, tubes for aiming, cups for holding the snowball)
• How far do you want it to launch?
• What materials will be most important?

This phase encourages creativity and allows families to experiment with engineering design principles.

Step 2: Build the Base

• Cut a piece of cardboard or use a flat plastic lid as the base of your launcher.
• Attach a cardboard tube to the base using tape or hot glue. This tube will serve as the guide for launching the snowball, so make sure it’s secure.

Step 3: Create the Launching Mechanism

• Take a plastic cup and cut the bottom out so the snowball can fly through.
• Stretch a rubber band across the opening of the plastic cup and tape it in place. This will create the tension needed to launch the snowball.
• Tape or glue the cup to the end of the cardboard tube. Make sure the rubber band is tight enough to provide tension but not so tight that it can’t be pulled back.

Step 4: Test and Adjust

• Place a small snowball (or foam ball) in the cup and pull back on the rubber band.
• Release to launch the snowball through the cardboard tube!
• Experiment with adjustments to make the launcher more effective. For example, can you add more rubber bands for extra power? Does changing the angle of the cardboard tube affect how far the snowball flies?

Step 5: Add an Artistic Flair

Use paint, markers, or decorations to personalize your launcher! Families can get creative with themes, colors, or names for their snowball launchers.

The Science Behind It (For Curious Minds):

This project introduces basic physics concepts, including:

• Elastic Potential Energy: The energy stored in the stretched rubber band is released when you let go, launching the snowball.
• Projectile Motion: The path the snowball takes as it flies through the air depends on the force and angle at which it’s launched.
• Engineering: Families will need to think like engineers, designing and improving their snowball launcher based on trial and error.

Extension Challenges:

• Challenge 1: How can you make your launcher shoot further? Try adjusting the tension or angle.
• Challenge 2: Set up a target and see how accurately you can aim your snowballs!
• Challenge 3: Create a launcher that can fire multiple snowballs at once!

Reflection Questions:

• What worked well in your design?
• How did adjusting the rubber bands or angle of the tube affect the snowball’s launch?
• How could you modify your design to improve it even further?a