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PHS Catapult Competition

By: Brad Douglas
Updated: October 19, 2012
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PITTSBURG, KS.---  This may not look like it, but this is actually a British Literature class. These kids aren't stuck reading about history, they're trying to recreate it by making catapults. 

"It's a lot of fun getting out of the class room, doing something not in a book," states Brianna Maxwell, Student.

Abby Cummings is the teacher and she says it brings history to life.
 
"When we're reading about old and middle English. This ties into the culture and the wars going on, does have historical value to it," states Abbey Cummings, Teacher.

Many of the students even named their machines. 

"One girl used a spoon called it the 'Spoon of Annihilation'," states Cummings.

Lizzy Willis named her green machine the "Monster," and where it lacks in distance, it makes up for in looks. 

"The colors are cool. It might not fly as far as the other ones in the class but we definitely think it's the best looking one," states Lizzy Willis, Student.

 The students are given 8 weeks to do the project. Many thought it would never come together. 

"At first we thought it was impossible. How the heck are we suppose to know how to build a catapult," states Willis.

The kids got creative, one group decided to use an ice cream scoop. Evan's machine is called "Sir Woody" and he says its got nice aim. 

"I think it went 50 to 60 feet. I was pretty accurate with it," states Evan Owen, Student. 

It can hit a camera on command. Many of the students learned that fighting back in medieval times was anything but easy. 

"I would just surrender. Would just be done," states Owen. 

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