Santa, Sleighs, and Science!

A student launches a “present” from his “Santa-pult” sleigh, “Gold Finger.”

Fourth period’s Decoration winners.

Santa needed assistance in delivering his presents. How could he drop presents down the chimney without leaving his sleigh? Santa-pults! Sixth grade science students in Mr. Steve Lamp’s classes at Lakeside Middle School were given all the needed materials (cardboard for the base and sleigh, a spoon, a Popsicle stick, rubber bands, brads, and tape) and were challenged in a learning activity to create a Santa-pult (catapult) that would help Santa with his dilemma. These Santa-pults were tested for distance and accuracy and judged on their decor. Simple Machines are part of a newly adopted science curriculum, Foss Kits.

On the day of testing, the sixth grade commons was filled with “presents” (marshmallows) flying through the air. In both the distance and accuracy categories, the inventors were allowed practice rounds. This enabled them to first test, then modify or repair their Santa-pults before the actual competition.

For distance, Santa-pults were lined up down one side of the commons area; one at a time the “presents” sailed through the air. One student used two rubber bands, as she predicted that they would “fling it harder.” Another sixth grader also used two rubber bands, but knotted them together as he felt the combined power of both rubber bands would make the “present” go farther. Although they did not win the distance round for their class, the two scientists were able to test their hypotheses and make adjustments.

A chimney (a decorated trash can) was placed in the middle of the commons area for the accuracy target. Given a two minute time limit, the sixth graders were to see how many “presents” they could Santa-pult down the chimney from behind the same line. One young man launched four into the chimney during both the practice and final accuracy rounds. “I put an extra brad at the top of the sleigh to serve as an “aimer,” he explained. “I know if my rubber bands are on each side of it, it’ll go straight. My first shot was on target but went over too far. So I scooted back by how much it overshot, and I made it. Then I just stayed in that spot.” Another student tied his classmate in the final round for the accuracy title. “I just changed the rubber bands around to get more power. I knew it would give me more distance, and that’s what I needed,” he explained.

With this seasonal learning activity, the sixth grade scientists were able to apply their knowledge. As they tested their original Santa-pults, they could problem solve to find ways to improve their simple machines. These inventors used scientific methods to achieve their goals. And they helped Santa!