Bring fall learning to life with this Pumpkin Catapult STEM Challenge!

Elementary students use popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and a plastic spoon to design and build a pumpkin launcher. Along the way, they explore potential energy, force, and gravity while practicing teamwork and creative problem-solving. Students sketch their ideas, predict launch distances, and measure results across three trials before reflecting on their designs.

Pair this Halloween STEM activity with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow or How Big Could Your Pumpkin Grow? for a literacy connection.