Mini T-Shirt Cannon – SCOPES-DF

Lesson Details

Age Ranges
Fab Tools
Standards
Fab-Safety.1, Fab-Design.1

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Author

Aidan Mullaney
Aidan Mullaney
Other
Aidan Mullaney is the Instructional Manager for the GE/Celtics Brilliant Play Lab. His primary role with the Fab Foundation is developing and delivering curriculum for the middle school mobile lab. Aidan facilitates career-related activities with a focus on STEM in… Read More

Summary

Engineer a mini T-shirt cannon out of a toilet paper roll and rubber bands to shoot marshmallows at a target or into a crowd!

 

Safety note: This activity requires the use of scissors and other sharp objects; parental supervision is advised. Items created in connection with this video should not be pointed at eyes or face.

What You'll Need

The Instructions

Choose Materials for Cannon

Decide which materials to use for the T-shirt cannon. This lesson will use a toilet paper roll, plastic bottle cap, paper clip, and marshmallows.

Puncture Holes in Toilet Paper Roll

Create two small holes opposite of each other at one end of the roll with scissors or thumb tacks. SAFETY NOTE: use care when puncturing holes with sharp objects.

Create Two Holes in the Plastic Bottle Cap

Puncture two small holes in the plastic bottle cap with scissors or a precision screwdriver. SAFETY NOTE: use care when puncturing holes with sharp objects.

Cut and Knot a Rubber Band

Cut one of the rubber bands and tie a double knot at the end. Alternatively, tie a knot to an aluminum can top.

Attach Rubber Bands to Roll

Insert the non-knotted end of the rubber band through one hole of the toilet paper roll from the exterior. Next, insert the same end through the top of the plastic bottle cap. Hook the second rubber band to the first under the cap bottom. Then, place the loose end of first rubber band through the open hole of the cap.

Fasten Bottle Cap to Roll

Place the loose end of the first rubber band through the open toilet paper roll hole from the interior. Once through, tie a double knot to the end of the rubber band . Space the cap evenly along the rubber band to ensure it doesn't catch the inside walls of the roll.

Bend and Attach Paper Clip

Attach the paper clip to the roll. Bend the larger loop of the paper clip at a 90 degree angle. The paper clip serves as both a helpful aiming tool and fastener for the second rubber band when restocking with t-shirts/ marshmallows.

Play!

Test out the newly assembled t-shirt cannon by launching marshmallows at a target or into a crowd!