This simple craft is a fun one for kids who may be a little to young for Nerf guns but who love the idea of launching things. You only need a few craft supplies to make this pom pom popper, and it works great as a marshmallow shooter too!
This activity is a great STEM activity and can teach kids about projectiles, angles and just be a fun way to experience a little science. Try an experiment to see if a pom pom, marshmallow or larger pom will go the furthest!
Safety Note: Be sure that kiddos are old enough for this activity and won’t try to put the poms in their mouths. Also it’s probably best to remind them that we don’t shoot these too close to people or at faces.
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Why kids love pom pom shooters
- The ability to shower a friend or family with pom poms or mini marshmallows is just fun!
- This is great for a boredom jar activity or when you’re stuck indoors due to weather.
- You could build these for a kiddo friendly New Years celebration too.
- You can see who can shoot the furthest, try different angles and experiments.
Supplies for Making Your Popper
- Paper towel tube (you could also use a plastic cup!)
- Scissors (remember to do the cutting if your child isn’t ready to yet.)
- balloon
- Construction paper or cardstock
- Hot glue gun (for adult use)
- mini pom poms or mini marshmallows
Steps for Your Pom Pom Popper
Start by cutting an empty paper towel tube in half. This will give you two pop pop poppers!
Cut your cardstock to size and roll it around the paper towel tube. Having an adult use a hot glue gun glue the paper together. You could skip the need for hot glue but decorating with paint, markers or crayons too!
Take a balloon that is not inflated and tie it with a balloon or simple knot.
Cut off the top portion of the balloon.
Add the balloon to the bottom of the paper towel tube, with the knot facing away from the tube. You may want to add a drop of hot glue or tape to secure depending on the size and material of your balloon.
Fill the tube with mini marshmallows or pom poms. Don’t overfill as then it won’t deploy properly. To launch the poms, pull back on the balloon tail and release! When shooting your popper, point slightly up for the best chance of it flying!
Tips for Making a Marshmallow or Pom Pom Shooter:
- If the balloon is sliding off the end when pulled prior to launching, use a piece of tape or hot glue it to the cardboard tube. Some balloons are stretchier than others and that could impact the fit. You could also double layer the balloon.
- You may want to designate a launch zone for this activity to help with cleanup.
- Use contact paper to make a target on the wall and see how many you can get to stick to it!
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Get the How-To
Supplies
- ½ paper towel tube
- 1 piece cardstock
- 1 ballon
- 10-12 pom poms (or mini marshmallows)
Instructions
- Start by cutting an empty paper towel tube in half. This will give you two pop pop poppers!
- Cut your cardstock to size and roll it around the paper towel tube. Having an adult use a hot glue gun glue the paper together. You could skip the need for hot glue but decorating with paint, markers or crayons too.
- Take a balloon that is not inflated and tie it with a balloon or simple knot.
- Cut off the top portion of the balloon.
- Add the balloon to the bottom of the paper towel tube, with the knot facing away from the tube. You may want to add a drop of hot glue or tape to secure depending on the size and material of your balloon.
- Fill the tube with mini marshmallows or pom poms. Don't overfill as then it won't deploy properly.
- To launch the poms, pull back on the balloon tail and release! When shooting your popper, point slightly up for the best chance of it flying.