Second Grader Catapults Learning into 21st Century

The weapon is actually patterned after one used in the Middle Ages.

But in 2012, it’s very much a hit.

Cherokee School second grader Christian Prieditis with the help of his father, Maris, literally catapulted visitors back to another time period during the school’s recent Inquiring Minds Exhibit.

• See related story: Cherokee Students Find Creative Ways to Answer Questions

More than 100 Cherokee students recently participated in the two-hour long event organized by science teacher Denise Kass.

Students eagerly discussed their projects and demonstrated the results of their experiments for students, parents and others who happened to stop by their booth and ask for an explanation.

Here is a sampling of two presentations:

 “What is a Trebuchet?” by Christian Prieditis, 7, 2nd grade

Ready. Aim. Fire. But watch out.

The missile-firing catapult made by Prieditis really works. Prieditis and his father, Maris,  operate the firing mechanism of the trebuchet that sends a sack, similar in size to a 16-inch softball, sailing into a group of boys scrambling to catch it as if it were a homerun ball hit into the bleachers at Wrigley Field.

They yell for Prieditis and his Dad to send another one. These ecstatic kids can’t seem to get enough of the device.

The poster board Prieditis made for the event informs inquiring minds that “the Trebuchet is probably the oldest type of catapult” and that they “were used mainly as lobbying machines to spread fire and diseased corpses (gross) as well as a lot of solid missiles over the walls of castles to rain down on the inhabitants.”

He said the idea for the trebuchet came from searching the Internet, and he decided to make it his project “because it was really cool and I like catapults.”

Christian estimated it took him and his Dad about three days to make the freestanding wood device.

“He made the sack and he put the flat piece of wood on the bottom and I drilled” said Christian. “But he put the counterweight on and he carved out the wood.”

Christian describes the counterweight and shaft as holding “people who had diseases so the people in the castle would get really sick and maybe they would die.”

The task of describing his project behind him, the 7-year-old dashes off to join his classmates in trying his hand at catching the sack.

 “Soapmaking” by Jackson Olenick, 9, 3rd grade

The making of colorful soap shapes from small cubes of white soap is the substance of Olenick’s project.

He presides over a table artfully displayed with an attractive selection of soap in a variety of shapes and colors, and a poster board outlining the steps to creating his artistry.

Olenick said a friend suggested he try making soap last year. It’s been his hobby ever since. He has even sold his creations at family events like his mom’s birthday party.

He said he completed the entire project by himself, but was quick to credit his dad for helping him create the spreadsheet calculating the cost of making the soaps that’s mounted on the poster board.

Olenick envisions himself an entrepreneur when he grows up, but he probably won’t be selling soap; he’s thinking art supplies, computers or maybe even phones.

For more news and updates from Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch, "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.