Roman Catapult Challenge

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Overview

Duration: 90 minutes
Class Size: 32 students
Age Group: Year 3 (7–8 years old)
Class Structure: Collaborative, practical, exploration-based

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Curriculum Links

National Curriculum for Art and Design – Key Stage 2 (England)

Pupils should be taught to:

• Use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.
• Develop their techniques, including their control and use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.
• Learn about great artists, architects and designers in history.

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Cross-Curricular Links

• History: Understanding of Roman engineering and warfare technologies.
• Design and Technology (DT): Building a usable structure with levers and joining techniques.
• Science: Exploring forces (pushes and pulls), tension, and motion.
• English: Use of subject-specific vocabulary, explanation writing and reviewing their design process.
• Maths: Measuring materials, angles of launch, and distances.

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Learning Intentions

By the end of the lesson, pupils will:

• Understand how Roman catapults worked and why they were significant in warfare.
• Use their creativity to recreate a functional Roman-style catapult.
• Work collaboratively to plan, create, test, and evaluate their catapult design.
• Reflect on the effectiveness and aesthetics of their final product.

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Success Criteria

Pupils will be successful if they:

• Select appropriate materials and tools with guidance.
• Create a catapult that can launch a small object safely.
• Collaborate respectfully and share roles within their team.
• Explain their design choices using appropriate vocabulary.

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Materials Needed

Ensure materials are pre-arranged and grouped to avoid congestion.

Per group (4 pupils)

• Lolly sticks (x6 per group)
• Elastic bands (x5 per group)
• Wooden pegs (x2 per group)
• Plastic bottle tops (for the launch basket)
• Blu Tack or hot glue guns (teacher supervised)
• Tape, safety scissors, ruler, pencils
• Small paper balls or pompoms (ammunition)

For the teacher

• Roman catapult example (pre-built or images)
• Measuring tape (for distance testing)
• Timer
• Whiteboard / Visualiser
• Roman-themed music (optional, to inspire creativity)

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Room Setup

• Desks in clusters of four (8 groups of 4)
• One central testing area set aside for trials
• Create a "Roman Catapult Gallery" space

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Lesson Breakdown

🟩 0–10 Minutes – Engaging Introduction

Objective: Set historical context; spark curiosity.

• Begin with key question: “How did the Romans attack enemies from a distance?”
• Show visual images or a short teacher-led story about Roman siege weapons.
• Pass around or show a model of a Roman catapult.
• Highlight why engineering and design were crucial to Roman success.

Mini-discussion: "What special features do you think a catapult needs to work effectively?"

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🟨 10–25 Minutes – Designing Phase

Objective: Plan a functional and aesthetic catapult.

• Pupils, in their groups, sketch a catapult concept using their knowledge from the introduction.
• Discuss terms: tension, arm, lever, base, projectile.
• Encourage annotations – “Where will the elastic go?”, “How will we secure it?”

Teacher circulates to assist with technical suggestions based on pupils’ ideas.

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🟦 25–60 Minutes – Construction Phase

Objective: Build and test prototype catapults.

Safety reminder first: demonstrate safe use of glue guns, scissors, and elastic bands.

• Pupils begin building using the materials provided.
• Encourage teams to ‘test and tweak’ rather than aiming for perfection on first try.
• Midway (at approx. 45 mins), pause for a “build reflection” – invite a few groups to share challenges and solutions.

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🟥 60–75 Minutes – Testing & Evaluation

Objective: Test functionality and assess performance.

• Use central testing space. Each group takes turns launching a projectile.
• Measure and record distances.
• Note:
  • How far did it go?
  • Did it consistently launch?
  • Was it sturdy?
• Ask viewers to provide positive, constructive feedback.

Optional: Use Roman-themed decorative scoring board: e.g. "Legion-Level Launch!" or "Centurion Strength!"

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🟫 75–85 Minutes – Gallery & Reflection

Objective: Celebrate achievements and reflect on learning.

• Set up all catapults with name cards in a “Roman Catapult Gallery”.
• Pupils walk around, observe, sketch a favourite, or write one thing they admire from a peer's design.
• Complete a quick written reflection:
  • What worked well?
  • What would I improve?
  • What did I learn about Roman engineering or my teamwork?

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🟪 85–90 Minutes – Plenary Discussion

Objective: Consolidate knowledge and celebrate creativity.

• Class discussion using sentence starters:

  • “I was amazed when…”
  • “If we built it again, we would…”
  • “The Romans were clever because…”

• Highlight the link to design thinking: testing, improving, and creativity are just as valuable as final outcomes.

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Extension for Fast Finishers

• Create a launch target: e.g. a mini Roman fortress made from blocks – Can they aim it?
• Design an illustrated instruction manual for their catapult.
• Research another Roman war machine and sketch it as inspiration.

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Assessment Opportunities

• Formative through observation and questioning during design & build.
• Peer and self-assessment post-testing.
• Annotated sketches and final written reflection (can be kept for display or sketchbooks).

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Teacher Note: Wow Opportunities 🌟

• Invite a local secondary school's DT teacher to co-judge or view the gallery.
• Photograph all catapults and create a class Roman Engineering Scrapbook.
• Link to Roman army roles – assign team roles like ‘Engineer’, ‘Commander’, ‘Test Officer’.

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Differentiation

• Support:
  • Provide partially constructed base or simplified catapult layout.
  • Use of templates and visual guides.
• Challenge:
  • Introduce limited materials to encourage critical choices.
  • Ask pupils to create adjustments for range or accuracy.

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Vocabulary Focus

Primary Term	Explanation
Catapult	A machine that throws an object forward
Projectile	The object launched by the catapult
Tension	The tightness created before release
Lever	A beam that moves to launch the object
Force	A push or a pull that makes things move

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Final Thoughts

This catapult design project encourages pupils to step inside the minds of Roman engineers, thinking like both artists and inventors. It blends creativity, history, science, and problem-solving with collaborative excitement. With careful guidance, pupils will develop both an appreciation for ancient technology and pride in their own imaginative creations.

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You're not just building catapults – you're bringing Roman innovation back to life.