BrainStorm GIANT Trebuchet STEM Kit
The BrainStorm GIANT Trebuchet STEM Kit immerses students in the science and engineering behind one of history’s most powerful mechanical systems. Through hands-on building, testing, and optimization, students explore how gravity, force, energy transfer, and mechanical advantage work together to launch projectiles with precision and power.
Students construct and operate a large-scale trebuchet that uses gravitational potential energy stored in a counterweight to generate motion. As the counterweight falls, energy transfers through the arm, converting potential energy into kinetic energy and launching a projectile along a predictable trajectory. This visible, dramatic motion makes abstract physics concepts tangible and memorable.
The kit invites students to think like engineers as they test how changes in counterweight mass, arm length, release angle, and projectile mass affect distance, accuracy, and efficiency. Through repeated trials, learners collect data, analyze patterns, and refine their designs, strengthening scientific reasoning and problem-solving skills.
Designed for classroom, after-school, and Expanded Learning settings, the GIANT Trebuchet STEM Kit is durable, reusable, and safe, with clearly defined components that support controlled experimentation. Its scale makes it ideal for demonstrations and collaborative challenges, while its simplicity ensures students can focus on concepts rather than complicated assembly.
Aligned with NGSS practices, the kit naturally supports the engineering design process, encouraging students to ask questions, test variables, evaluate results, and iterate toward improved performance. Whether used in a physics unit, STEM enrichment program, or school-wide event, the GIANT Trebuchet delivers high engagement and deep conceptual learning.
Key Learning Focus
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Gravitational potential and kinetic energy
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Forces, motion, and Newton’s Laws
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Simple machines and mechanical advantage
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Projectile motion and trajectories
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Engineering design and data analysis
Ideal For
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STEM days and engineering challenges
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After-school and ELOP programs
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Physics and engineering units
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Team-based design and testing activities
The BrainStorm GIANT Trebuchet STEM Kit turns ancient engineering into a powerful modern learning experience—helping students see, test, and understand the forces that shape motion and design.