Gold Coin Catapults: A St. Patrick’s Day STEM Activity

January 23, 2026

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a spoon attached to popsicle sticks with rubber bands to make a catapault

Popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and a plastic spoon may look like ordinary craft supplies, but in the right configuration, they turn into something far more exciting. Gold coin catapults bring motion, problem-solving, and playful experimentation together in one hands-on build. Designed with a green and gold theme, this St. Patrick’s Day science activity blends engineering with imagination, inviting kids to launch “gold coins” while exploring cause and effect.

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This St. Patrick’s Day STEM activity for kids adds energy to learning through movement. Popsicle sticks stack, flex, and snap into place, forming a simple machine that encourages curiosity and experimentation. Each launch is full of info about force, tension, and design choices.

Why Gold Coin Catapults Make a Great STEM Challenge for Kids

Catapults have a long history of fascinating kids. The moment tension releases and an object flies through the air, learning feels immediate and exciting. Gold coin catapults channel that excitement into a focused STEM challenge for kids that feels playful while still grounded in engineering concepts.

As a St. Patrick’s Day STEM activity, the theme adds motivation without overpowering the learning. Gold coins, green popsicle sticks, and the idea of treasure create a narrative that keeps interest high. The build invites testing, adjusting, and rethinking, all core elements of STEM learning.

This St. Patrick’s Day science activity also encourages patience. Rubber bands need to stretch evenly, sticks must align, and small adjustments change results dramatically. Every launch offers feedback and a motivation to try again.

Materials for a Popsicle Stick Catapult

popsicle sticks, rubber bands, a spoon, and gold coins

Gold coin catapults rely on simple materials that work well in classrooms or at home.

Green popsicle sticks
Rubber bands
Plastic spoon
Gold coins or lightweight round objects

The simplicity of the materials allows focus to stay on the build rather than the supplies. Popsicle sticks provide flexibility and strength, while rubber bands supply stored energy for launching.

Building the Base of a Popsicle Stick Catapult

popsicle sticks with rubber bands around them

Start by stacking four green popsicle sticks neatly on top of one another. Line up the ends carefully so the stack stays even. Wrap a rubber band tightly around one end of the stack, then repeat on the other end. This creates a solid base that acts as the foundation of the simple STEM project.

The stacked sticks resist bending, making them ideal for anchoring the moving parts. This step introduces the idea of structural support, an important concept in any STEM challenge for kids.

Creating the Launch Arm

a popsicle stick attached to a spoon with rubber bands

Take one additional green popsicle stick and place a plastic spoon on it. The handle of the spoon should align with the stick so the bowl hangs just off the end. Secure the spoon to the popsicle stick using rubber bands wrapped tightly around the handle and stick.

This combination forms the launch arm. The spoon holds the gold coin, while the popsicle stick transfers force when the arm flexes. The tighter the rubber bands, the more stable the connection.

Adding the Support Stick

popsicle sticks attached to a spoon with rubber bands

Place another green popsicle stick underneath the spoon-and-stick combination. This stick helps create a pivot point and adds strength to the launch arm. Secure this support stick with a rubber band at the non-spoon end.

This step adds complexity to the build, introducing the idea of leverage. Small changes in placement affect how far the gold coin travels, turning each adjustment into new data.

Assembling the Catapult

Slide the four-stick base in between the spoon-and-stick combination and the support stick. The base should sit snugly, creating tension between the layers. Adjust the placement until the catapult feels stable but flexible.

Once assembled, the popsicle stick catapult should spring slightly when pressed. This stored energy is what launches the gold coin forward and makes this catapult STEM activity exciting.

St. Patrick’s Day Books To Read After Launching Gold Coins

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover!

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