Subject Code: ADTECH 2 Art, Design and Technology 2

LG Code: 6.0 Design Project

Lesson Code: 6.0 Project Introduction
Handout/Manual

Time Limit: 30 minutes

By the end of this learning guide, students should be able to:

1. Understand & analyze a set of instructions that could make a basic trebuchet.
2. Carry out the phases of the Design Thinking Process.
3. Appreciate and carry out the use of mockups/models in testing/troubleshooting.

DESIGN PROJECT:
Lightweight Materials 3
Hello, it’s me again!

By now, you have probably brushed up on your isometric drawing #skillz. Don’t worry though, that’s not
a one-time thing (mwahaha). You’ll be sketching up a lot of isometric drawings throughout the course of
ADTECH 2 until it becomes your standard—until you live and breathe visualizing on paper.

It’s the same thing with learning the Design Thinking Process: the more you do it, the more you remember
until it becomes as natural as breathing to you. That’s why we have design projects. Design projects
provide a lot of opportunities to sharpen these skills.

Speaking of design projects, I believe you’re now ready to do one. Excited?

For the 1st Quarter, our design project will mainly deal with lightweight materials. For example: popsicle
sticks, BBQ sticks, construction nails, paper clips, plastic cellophanes, strings, etc. Basically, these are
materials you usually use for mini-projects and handicrafts because of their thin make and…light weight.

Such is the case for our Design Project #1—we’ll be making a *drumroll* Popsicle Stick Trebuchet!

Figure 6.1 Pisay MC Batch 2024 students showcasing their mini-trebuchets in class (with permission to use here)
Copyright 2019 by Boon Lauw

LG 6.0 August 2020 ADTECH 2 (Gr8) Page 1 of 8

Excited ka na, ‘no?

So, without further ado, you should now read up on the instruction manual below. Take note that the
provided manual/handout is merely a suggestion or guide for you. You don’t have to follow it word for
word. But if you do follow it (especially for your first prototype), the person who wrote it guarantees a
mini-trebuchet that could launch a projectile at least 3 feet. (Goal for this quarter is 8ft)

Enjoy! ^_^

BASIC POPSICLE STICK TREBUCHET

Instructions manual written by Tom from stormthecastle.com 20
**NOTE: The following text, discussions and instructions are taken mostly verbatim from Tom Wilson’s
guide which you can access at Will Kalif’s website http://www.stormthecastle.com/trebuchet/how-to-
make-a-trebuchet-out-of-popsicle-sticks.htm. Some parts have been edited for the purpose of this module
to make it easier to understand. Mini-trebuchets resulting from following Tom’s instructions to the letter
can produce a working contraption capable of flinging lightweight ammo (i.e. candy) at least 3 feet.

Be sure to read properly and completely before starting anything!

The trebuchet was the ultimate artillery weapon of the medieval period
and early renaissance. A large and unwieldy weapon, it was typically
built on-site during battle, and turned to lob great weights—such as
carcasses of rotting horses and pots of burning pitch, over the castle
walls and onto its inhabitants.

PROS:

Historically authentic
Looks very cool
Silent but deadly
Powerful and accurate if “tuned” correctly
CONS:

Can be difficult to build—you might get

frustrated
Tricky to tune so that it shoots well
Slow rate of fire

Figure 6.2 Sample Popsicle Stick Trebuchet by Tom Wilson from stormthecastle.com

LG 6.0 August 2020 ADTECH 2 (Gr8) Page 2 of 8

MATERIALS
1. Minimum fifteen (15) regular-sized popsicle sticks
2. Five (5) popsicle sticks cut in half
3. Three (3) pieces of string with varying length
a. 3-inch string
b. 3-inch string with loop tied on one end (tie the loop first, then measure)
c. 12-inch string
4. Piece of plastic bag/cellophane cut into a 1x3-inch rectangle
5. 1 ½-inch finishing nail
6. Paperclip (any size)
7. Fishing weights or any dense material
8. White glue

TOOLS
1. Scissors
2. Pencil/markers
3. Ruler
4. Cutter (optional)
5. Cutting mat (optional)
6. Clamp (optional)
7. Power drill (optional)
8. Pliers (optional)
9. Masking tape (optional)

**NOTE: You can be resourceful with the materials and tools you use—after all, that’s one of the things
we wish for you to learn in ADTECH2. For example, in the absence of a clamp, you may “clamp” two
pieces of popsicle sticks glued together by placing several thick books or heavy objects on top of it.

Figure 6.3 Heavy object as a clamp

[Image from the cartoon show The Fairly Odd Parents]

LG 6.0 August 2020 ADTECH 2 (Gr8) Page 3 of 8

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Make the BASE.
a. Glue together six (6) sticks into a square, “log-cabin” style.

Figure 6.4 Base (from stormthecastle.com)

2. Make the UPRIGHTS.

a. Glue two (2) sticks together for strength. Shown in Figure 6.5 is one of the uprights.
b. Glue a half-stick to the side of the upright. It should stick out by about 1/16 of an inch past the
upright. This will be the upright’s crossbeam (Figure 6.6).

Figure 6.5 Upright Figure 6.6 Crossbeam Figure 6.7 Reinforcement

(from stormthecastle.com (from stormthecastle.com) (from stromthecastle.com)

c. Reinforce the crossbeam with another half-stick as shown in Figure 6.7.

d. Repeat previous three steps to make a second upright.

3. Trebuchet Structure
a. Attach the uprights to the base.
b. Glue the uprights in the middle of the thick sides, with the crossbeams pointing in (aligned).
c. There should be a space of at least 3/8 of an inch between the crossbeams. See Figure 6.8.
d. Using four half-sticks (two on each side), glue braces to each upright, forming an upside-down
“V” as shown in Figure 6.9.

LG 6.0 August 2020 ADTECH 2 (Gr8) Page 4 of 8

 Figure 6.8 Space between Crossbeams Figure 6.9 Support for Uprights
(from stormthecastle.com) (from stormthecastle.com)

4. Build the THROWING ARM.

a. Sandwich and glue a half-stick in between two (2) full sticks as shown in Figure 6.10. This is the
bottom part of the throwing arm.
b. Sandwich and glue a full stick into the space on the top side of the throwing arm as shown in
Figure 6.11.

Figure 6.10 Throwing Arm bottom Figure 6.11 Throwing Arm top
(from stormthecastle.com) (from stormthecastle.com)

**NOTE: How could changing the arm length affect the performance of the trebuchet?

c. Get an adult to drill two holes on the bottom of the throwing arm, about ¼-inch and 3/4-inch from
the bottom end of the throwing arm. This can be done easily with a power drill or with comparable
difficulty by twisting a nail (or any pointed metal) into the popsicle stick.

5. Attach the sling and pin to the throwing arm.

a. PIN: using pliers, bend a piece of stiff but thin wire (a paperclip works perfectly) into a sharp “J”
shape as shown in Figure 6.12.
b. SLING: cut the ends of your plastic into “V” shapes. Attach a 3-inch string to one end. Then attach
a 3-inch string with loop on the other end. See Figure 6.13.
c. Attach the pin to the top portion of the throwing arm so the pointed top of the “J” sticks out of the
throwing arm about 1/8 inches. It has to be attached very solidly, thus the curved bottom of “J”.
d. Attach the end of the straight string (no loop) as well. The sling and the looped string should be
able to hang down freely as shown in Figure 6.14.

Figure 6.12 J-pin Figure 6.13 Sling Figure 6.14 Assembly

(from stormthecastle.com) (from stormthecastle.com) (from stormthecastle.com)

LG 6.0 August 2020 ADTECH 2 (Gr8) Page 5 of 8

6. Assembling the Trebuchet
a. Insert the nail through the upper hole in the throwing arm (¾ inch from the bottom end).
b. Attach the ends of the nail to the crossbeams. If the trebuchet breaks, it will probably be at this
point, so secure the connections and assembly properly. See Figure 6.15.
c. Attach the weights to the bottom hole of the throwing arm with the 12-inch string. Use the string
to tie on your available weights. See Figure 6.16.

Figure 6.15 Fulcrum Figure 6.16 Weights

(from stormthecastle.com) (from stormthecastle.com)

7. Firing the trebuchet (Loading and Release)

a. Fold the sling in half over the projectile (i.e. candy)
b. Place the looped string over the pin (shoot it in)
c. Pull the throwing arm down to the surface/ground, with the sling lying flat on the ground pointed
towards the base. See Figure 6.17.
d. Hold sling in place with one finger. Quickly remove finger to release.

Figure 6.17 Loading and Release

8. Tuning (from stormthecastle.com)
a. Make small adjustments, one at a time, until you achieve the desired performance. Making huge
adjustments or several adjustments at once can have unpredictable results.
b. If the sling doesn’t fly over the top of the throwing arm, you need either more weight or a lighter
projectile.

LG 6.0 August 2020 ADTECH 2 (Gr8) Page 6 of 8

 c. If the loop doesn’t release, you might have twisted the sling strings, or your pin might be too long,
nicked, or gunked up with glue.
d. If the trajectory is too high (the projectile flies straight up or backwards), use pliers to bend pin
slightly forward. This will delay the release of the sling, making for a flatter trajectory.
e. If the trajectory is too low (the projectile flies downward into the ground), use pliers to bend the
pin slightly backward. This will release the loop sooner, causing a higher trajectory.

PROJECT SCOPE & LIMITATIONS 5

You may start the project now if you’d like, although we strongly recommend going through LG 7.0 first.
It has some cool facts that can help make your popsicle stick trebuchet project easier. Nevertheless, if we
really can’t stop you…here are the scope and limitations for the design project that you need to know:

1. Hot glue sticks (glue gun) and super glue (mighty bond) are not allowed.
2. The footprint of the trebuchet must not exceed a 1x1 popsicle stick area (area of base). In this way, the
weights will pull on the throwing arm and bring it up. Btw the footprint is determined by the parts that
touch the ground you leave the trebuchet at rest on a flat surface.
3. Most importantly, HAVE FUN! But don’t get wild and destructive either. If something doesn’t
work. Apply systems and factor analysis to troubleshoot, and then ask advice from your teacher.

GOALS/MILESTONES/ASSESSMENT

1. HALFWAY Checking due on Week 5: __________________________

a. Set up trebuchet on the floor with at least 8 feet of clear area in front.
b. For the ammo/projectile, use a “potchi” candy as shown in Figure 6.17 below. It is recommended
because of its weight, thereby making its travel more challenging. It’s also yummy! If you
cannot find Potchi from nearby stores/groceries, you may negotiate with your teacher for a
different projectile, but this could entail a longer goal (for Mentos, distance increases to 6ft/10ft).

Figure 6.17 Potchi, the projectile

(Image from Shopee)

c. Goal to fling the potchi at least 4 FT forward.

d. It is recommended to mark the floor with masking tape to indicate distance.
e. Distance recorded will be the first touch on the floor, not the final stop after bouncing and sliding.
f. Send proof of accomplishment through video showing at least 5 consecutive tries.

2. FINAL Checking due on Week 8: _________________________

a. Goal to fling the potchi at least 8 FT forward.

LG 6.0 August 2020 ADTECH 2 (Gr8) Page 7 of 8

 By now, you should be well-equipped to start making your own popsicle stick trebuchet (if
you already have the necessary materials). It is highly advised though to completely read
and fully understand the basic manual first before venturing with your own designs.
1
Alternatively, you may construct your first prototype by following the basic manual word for word.

Don’t forget to plan ahead and utilize the Design Thinking Process. Enjoy! ^_^

References:

[Cartoon still showing anvil accident]. (n.d.)

https://fairlyoddparents.fandom.com/wiki/Sleazy_and_Cheezy

UNO Foods Inc. (n.d.). Potchi strawberry cream gummy candy [Photograph].
http://unofoodsinc.com/product-detail/potchi-strawberry-cream-gummy-candy/

Kalif, W. (2019). How to make a popsicle stick mini trebuchet. STORMTHEcastle.

http://www.stormthecastle.com/trebuchet/how-to-make-a-trebuchet-out-of-popsicle-
sticks.htm

Prepared by: Boon Kristoffer P. Lauw Reviewed by: Christine Joyce J. Lagasca
Position: Special Science Teacher I Position: Special Science Teacher I
Campus: PSHS Main Campus Campus: PSHS CALABARZON Campus

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