new.schoolnotes.com offers a free service that lets you know when I've updated this page. To sign up, just click the blue "Notify me" and follow their instructions.

5/22
Last geography paper of the year!!!
"The World As I See It" is due on Friday, 5/25.

========

ROMAN CATAPULT TOURNAMENT
MAY XXIX, XXX, & XXXi

Asyou know, the Romans were great engineers and masters of the technology oftheir times.  One of their battle deviceswas the catapult, often used when putting a city under siege, but sometimesalso used to fling projectiles at opposing troops.  You will participate in the 2012 Roman Catapult Tournament bybuilding and competing with a catapult of your design and construction.  A basic plan is included in this packet butyou are encouraged to create your own design.

Tournament Instructions

The barbarians are invading and are planning to attack the forts in theregion. You are Roman engineers and it is your task to design and build acatapult that will help the Roman army.  Youwill then take part in a Roman Catapult Tournament to test the effectiveness ofyour catapult.

There are 2 challenges for your catapult to competein: 

1. Shortest distance (sometimes you need to hit enemieswho are closing in on you)

2. Longest distance (sometimesyou need to hit enemies who are far away from you)

Also …

You will select asize or weight class for your catapult, depending on your design.  Competition categories are

            a.Little Caesar (small)          b. Titanic(medium)         c. Colossus (large)

 Rules

*    Youmay build your catapult by yourself OR you may work with partners from yourclassroom.

*    Allcatapults must be freestanding.

*    All catapults must fit into a 3-foot cube(or less, and excluding the throwing arm).

*    Tennisballs and mystery projectiles will be used as missiles and will be provided atthe event.  Your catapult should be ableto accept projectiles of different sizes and shapes.

*    Your catapult must pass a safety test.

ü  you must take your catapult homeimmediately after the tournament

ü  you may not dispose of it here at school

ü all catapultsmust be taken home by Friday, June I at the latest

Making a Catapult

When designing your catapult,remember the challenges in which it will have to compete. The catapult willneed to be accurate and fast-firing.

 Think about the distance that the projectile will need totravel and design your catapult to an appropriate size.  

You will need to transport your catapult to the firing range, shoot it, andreturn it to the classroom within a class period, so make sure it is easy tomove.  Be as creative as you can.

For a website where you can findcatapult plans and instructions: http://www.stormthecastle.com/catapult/how-to-build-a-catapult.htm

Feel free to research more catapultplans and ideas online.  You will comeacross many websites that offer catapult plans and kits for sale.  Do not buy them.  Make your own!

You can send email directly to me at school from this new.schoolnotes.com website (they have my email address on file, you don't have to remember my address) and I'll respond as soon as possible. Thank you!