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HistoryEngineeringScience

Historical Siege Engineering Trial

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Grades 6-890-120 minSource: Creative Dad Company

Teams research a real historical siege engine, like a trebuchet or battering ram, build a working scale model, and put popular claims about it on trial.

Budget levels

Amazon prices checked Oct 9-10, 2026 and may change

Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change. As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick Start

Digital downloads only.

$0 to buy. Printing noted separately.

Student time: one class period, one day.

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one class period on a single day.

Scale back: Fit it into a shorter period, use fewer effects, or run a demo instead of a build.

Scale up: Add one extra effect, or spread the share-out across another day.

Ambiance video

Ambiance video coming soon from Creative Dad Studio

  • measuring tapeBorrow or school hasuse what you have
  • protractorBorrow or school hasuse what you have

Full Experience

Required materials for the class.

$6.28 per class (class of about 30, 6 groups).

Student time: one day.

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one school day.

Scale back: Fit the build into one period with fewer effects.

Scale up: Spread the work across days, or add more effects.

  • Washers or coins for counterweightsRequired1 x 270 pieces270 pieces$6.28Amazon

Total Transformation

The bigger kit, with every optional item included.

$6.28 per class (class of about 30, 6 groups).

Student time: one day (one session, one-day event).

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one session, a one-day event.

Scale back: Shorten the event, or run a demo for a smaller audience.

Scale up: Spread the build and the event across days, or invite a bigger audience.

Choose your version

Every level teaches the same core idea — pick the one that fits your time, budget, and energy today.

Student time: 30 min, one class periodTeacher prep / build-ahead: 15 min$0 to buy. Printing noted separately.One table or a clear section of floorBeginner-friendly

Setup

Print or hand-copy the essential prompt for Historical Siege Engineering Trial, then set out only paper, pencils, and the common or recycled items needed for one test. Use a tabletop representation whenever the original version mentions a room, specialized device, or digital tool; the learning comes from the decisions and evidence, not elaborate scenery.

Activity

  1. Research a historical siege engine and predict how far and accurately a scale model version can launch a projectile.
  2. Build the scale trebuchet or catapult model following the historical mechanism as closely as possible.
  3. Test-fire the model, find the range or accuracy falls short of the historical claim, and adjust the counterweight or arm length to investigate why.
  4. Hold a mock historical trial, presenting test data as evidence for or against popular claims about the weapon's power.

Ambiance video

Ambiance video coming soon from Creative Dad Studio

Done when: The group has completed Historical Siege Engineering Trial when it can hold a mock historical trial, presenting test data as evidence for or against popular claims about the weapon's power and point to the observation, measurement, comparison, or trial that supports its conclusion.

Materials

wooden craft sticks, string, rubber bands, small plastic cup, marshmallows or pom-poms as projectiles; Washers or coins for counterweights; measuring tape; protractor

Shown for the Quick Start version — switch tabs above to see what changes.

Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change.

As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases.

Steps

  1. Research a historical trebuchet and predict how far a scale model can launch a projectile.
  2. Build a scale counterweight trebuchet following the historical mechanism.
  3. Draw a first energy model: show the counterweight and Earth as a system and predict that raising the counterweight higher stores more potential energy, which becomes motion of the projectile.
  4. Investigate: launch with the counterweight raised to three different starting heights (same mass), three trials each, and measure distance. Then repeat with two counterweight masses at one height.
  5. Revise the model: use the data to draw bar charts of relative stored energy for each arrangement and explain why more height means more stored energy.
  6. Compare results to the historical claim, adjust the counterweight or arm, and retest to investigate any shortfall.
  7. Hold a mock trial presenting the energy model and launch data as evidence for or against popular claims.

Standards mapped

  • NGSS · MS-PS3-2

    Develop a model to describe that when the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, different amounts of potential energy are stored in the system.