Story last updated at 6/6/2012 - 2:11 pm
Brenda Kraus's eighth-grade geometry class at Dzantik'i Heeni Middle School pose for a photo on May 25 after showcasing their finished catapults. From left: Forest Kobayashi, Elias Autaya, Martina Worden, Brian Holst, Corbin Mitchell, Brenda Krauss, Katie Buchanan, James Cheng, Soren Thompson, Medora Evelyn Rorick; class member not pictured: Neil van Tamlen.
The students researched the historical use and designs of catapults, then combined their research with geometric principles to create theoretical range models. Based on the performance of the models the students built full sized catapults. They used materials such as wood, nails and duct tape, and took a shop safety class to use power drills and handsaws. According to Krauss the point of the project was to get the students to engage in hands-on learning and problem solving to create the structures and to predict where the catapult projectiles would land.