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slug Created with Sketch. Crafts

Leaf Launcher

Fling "fallen foliage" into a compost pile with a nine-step trebuchet. After you've built your trebuchet, watch the video above to see how to set up your leaf launcher!

What You’ll Need
  • One swing arm. Glue four craft sticks together as shown.

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    WhatYoullNeed-

  • Four frame pieces. Glue three craft sticks together, as shown. Repeat three more times.

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  • Three 9-inch lengths of yarn.

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  • Two paper clips, bent as shown.

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    WhatYoullNeed-

  • Counterweight. Punch two holes into a small plastic cup.

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  • Sling. Fold a piece of felt in half and cut out an egg shape. Add two staples and punch two holes, as shown.

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What You’ll Do
  1. For the base, cut off the top and short sides of a rectangular tissue box, leaving a triangle in each bottom corner.

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  2. Glue two frame pieces and one craft stick together, as shown, to make a frame. Do the same with the other frame pieces. Let the glue dry.

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  3. Glue the frames to the walls of the base.

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  4. Tape the bottom arm of a binder clip to the base.

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  5. Ask an adult to use a low-temperature glue gun or duct tape to attach the bent paper clips and a piece of wide straw to the swing arm, as shown.

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  6. Add a yarn hanger to the plastic cup. Trim the extra yarn. Loop a paper clip around the hanger. Fill the cup with small heavy objects.

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  7. Tie yarn to each hole of the sling. Make a loop at the end of one piece of yarn. Tie the end of the other piece of yarn to the paper clip at the long end of the swing arm.

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  8. Slide a pencil through the straw on the swing arm. Fasten the pencil to the frame using rubber bands.

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  9. Last, create some small leaves out of air-dry clay.

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How to Play

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