DIY: Rubber Band Gun | Tinkerer Box Blog

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Rubber Band Gun

Stem Activities

Ages: 9-12

Less than 30 minutes

Grownup needed

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Every child has their own version of a toy gun. Using lolly sticks, rubber bands, and glue, you can create your very own rubber band gun. Take aim, get ready to fire, and begin your rubber band adventure!

Materials Needed

5 lolly sticks
Rubber bands
Paint
Paintbrush
Palette
Scissors
Pencil
Ruler

An assortment of craft supplies lies on a light wood table, arranged for a flat lay photograph. The items include wooden craft sticks, a yellow rubber band, three small tubes of paint (blue, green, and yellow), a paintbrush, a pencil, scissors, a flower-shaped paint palette, and a clear plastic ruler. The scene suggests preparation for a children's art project.

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Mark one lolly stick at 12cm and another at 8cm.

Two wooden craft sticks lie on a light wood surface. A hand uses a pencil and a clear ruler to mark a point on the lower stick at 8cm. A line above the first craft stick indicates a length of 12cm. The scene suggests the beginning steps of a crafting project involving measurement.

Step 2

Cut the lolly sticks at the marks using scissors, and shape the edges to match the curved end.

Two hands are shown against a light wood background. One hand holds a wooden craft stick, while the other hand uses scissors to cut the end of the stick. The image suggests a DIY or crafting activity.

Step 3

Take the 12cm lolly stick and draw a triangle at one end with a pencil, then cut out the triangle using scissors.

A wooden craft stick rests on a light wood surface. One hand holds the stick while another hand uses a pencil to draw a small notch on the right end. The scene suggests a crafting activity, possibly marking the wood for cutting or shaping.

Step 4

Paint the lolly sticks in your favourite colours!

On a light wooden surface, several craft sticks are visible. Some are painted a light green, while others are yellow. A hand holds a yellow craft stick as another hand uses a paintbrush to apply yellow paint to it. The image captures the process of painting craft sticks for a craft project.

Step 5

Place the 12cm lolly stick between 2 uncut lolly sticks as shown. Ensure the triangular notch faces outward.

Two hands hold two painted craft sticks – one yellow and one light green – against a light wood background. The green stick is placed on top of the yellow stick, and they are being held together. The green stick has a notched end. The image suggests a stage in a crafting process where the sticks are being combined.

Step 6

Secure the three lolly sticks with rubber bands.

Against a light wood background, two hands manipulate a pair of craft sticks. A yellow rubber band is being wrapped around the area where a light green and a yellow craft stick overlap. The green stick has a notched end. This image depicts a step in a crafting process, likely creating a small catapult or similar device.

Step 7

Insert the 8cm lolly stick between the 2 lolly sticks at a 45-degree angle, as shown.

Two hands are assembling a small catapult made of craft sticks on a light wood background. A yellow craft stick and a light green one are held together with a yellow rubber band at one end. A second light green stick is wedged between the first two. The green stick on top has a notched end. The image shows a stage in constructing a craft stick catapult.

Step 8

Secure the 8cm lolly stick with rubber bands.

Against a light wooden backdrop, two hands are shown constructing a craft stick catapult. A yellow craft stick is positioned diagonally, with a light green stick wedged perpendicularly across it. Yellow rubber bands are wrapped around both intersection points of the sticks. The green stick attached to the top end of the yellow stick has a notched end. The image illustrates a step in the process of making a simple catapult using craft sticks and rubber bands.

Step 9

Next, place the final lolly stick vertically between the two lolly sticks, as shown.

Against a light wood background, two hands hold a nearly completed craft stick catapult. A yellow stick forms the base, with a light green stick perpendicular at the bottom and another light green stick on top, secured with yellow rubber bands. The top green stick has one end notched and extends past the yellow stick, forming the projectile launching arm. The other end of the top green stick is wedged under the yellow stick, creating the tension mechanism. A smaller piece of a green craft stick is wedged between the yellow stick and the launching arm. The image showcases the final stages of assembling the catapult.

Step 10

Use rubber bands to create a cross-binding, securing all 3 lolly sticks.

Two hands are putting the finishing touches on a craft stick catapult against a light wood background. A yellow stick serves as the catapult's base. A light green stick acts as the support, perpendicular to the yellow stick at the bottom, secured with a crisscrossed yellow rubber band. Another light green stick, notched at one end, rests on top of the yellow stick, held in place by a yellow rubber band. A small piece of a light green craft stick is wedged between the top green stick and the yellow base. The image captures the near-completion of the catapult construction.

Step 11

Finally, hook one end of a rubber band into the triangular notch and loop the other end over the angled lolly stick. Your rubber band gun is ready!

On a light wood surface, two hands are assembling a craft stick catapult. One hand holds the catapult, which consists of a yellow stick as the base, a light green support stick perpendicular at the bottom, and another light green, notched stick on top. These are secured with yellow rubber bands. A small piece of light green craft stick is wedged between the top and base sticks. The other hand holds a separate yellow rubber band, ready to complete the catapult assembly.

Step 12

Now pull the trigger and fire away!

A hand holds a completed craft stick catapult against a plain white background. The catapult is constructed with a yellow stick as the base and light green sticks forming the support and launching arm. Yellow rubber bands secure the structure at the intersection points. A small green stick piece is wedged between the launching arm and the base. A thin blue rubber band is stretched along the top of the catapult, ready to launch a projectile.

The Science Behind It:

When a rubber band is stretched, it stores energy known as elastic potential energy. The rubber band gun works by storing this energy through stretching. When the rubber band is released from the gun, the stored energy converts to kinetic energy, causing the rubber band to shoot forward rapidly.

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