More Frugal Kids Activities . . . Colorful Catapults

When I found this craft on Family Fun magazine I was pretty sure my son would like it.  So we decided to make it, mostly because I had all of the materials on hand. 

Gather your supplies:

• Block of wood
• Paint (optional)
• Hot glue
• Clothespin
• Jumbo craft stick

• Plastic bottle cap
• Paper plates
• Markers
• Paper

Now here is what you do:

Start with a scrap block of wood.  I let the kids paint it. 

Hot-glue a clothespin to the block, and a jumbo craft stick to the clothespin, as shown. Then glue a plastic bottle cap near the end of the craft stick, leaving a short lip for a release lever.

Oh and if you notice my son's outfit, he did dress himself that day and I was just so thankful for that that I did not care if he wore stripes and plaids.

Create targets of varying point values using paper plates and markers, and crumple small pieces of paper into balls to hurl. Now aim for the highest score.
 
My notes:  I used a milk jug cap instead of a pop bottle cap because it is a little bigger.  We used balled up paper but we also used giant marshmallows.  I painted numbers 1-5 since we are working on numbers and I showed them the plate that had their age on it. 

When my husband got home he thought I was kind of a genius for thinking this game up.  I had to tell him the truth that while I am a genius (ha!) I did not think of this game by myself.  I'm not that crafty, right?

For more Frugal ideas, please visit Life as a Mom.