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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 7:33am | IP Logged
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I'm just wondering if anyone is familiar with the book _Backyard Ballistics_ and your thoughts about it. I am trying to decide on a birthday gift for my ds who will be 13. Thanks!
Becky
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Martha
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I'd be interested too!
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Lisbet
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Yes! We have this! Dh and the kids have done a few things out of it, Cincinnati kite rockets, potato rocket, and, hmmm, there was another one but I don't recall. I think they'll use it more whenever we move out of the city. I think it's a great gift for a 13 y.o. boy! :)
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MacBeth
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Very fun. A great gift  .
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MacBeth in NY
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lapazfarm
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Perfect for a 13 yo boy!
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Theresa
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5athome
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| Posted: Oct 25 2006 at 12:17pm | IP Logged
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While ds likes this one we have built more from the 2nd book which concentrates on catapults. You might want both.
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Becky Parker
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Thanks everyone!!
Becky
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MarieA
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My 13 year old has it and likes this book.
Marie
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momtomany
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My 14 year old loves it!
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Mary Ann in PA
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KellyJ
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It is a neat book; but if you have only a little property and don't have a place to go with space to launch, it can be a bit unrealistic.
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Nov 02 2006 at 8:35pm | IP Logged
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Thanks everyone. We did get the book for him and he loves it. We actually got the second book (the one about catapults) too. He's really enjoying them and is learning quite a bit about history! We ran into an interesting problem though. I called the hardware store and told the man that I needed to come in and purchase some items for my son who is doing a project. I asked if someone there would be able to help me find what I need as I have no knowledge of PVC pipe, copper tubing, etc. The man asked what he was making and I said "A potato cannon". He replied "Are you telling me your son is making a gun?!" I was shocked! "Well, no" I stammered, "it's just a project sort of like for Science". He ended the conversation with "I'm sorry ma'am but I'll have no part in helping a child make weapons" and he hung up. I just stood there with my jaw down to my knees. Later, my husband said that with all the craziness in our world today I should have anticipated that. I obviously didn't. It's a shame.
DH stopped by Home Depot and got what my ds needed but I feel really bad that someone would think I was helping my ds make a weapon for violent use.
Becky
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lapazfarm
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That is too bad, Becky. What a world we live in!
When I taught middle school science I had my kids make trebuchets to launch eggs. It was so much fun to see them design, build, tinker, adjust, and then finally launch them. The whole school turned out on launch day to see them go and cheer on their favorite team!What a fun time we had...
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Lisbet
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Becky, I wonder if you live in my neighborhood! LOL!  That's really weird.
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
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Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
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Sam, 9
Henry, 7
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Mark, 5
Greta, 3
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marihalojen
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Marianna and her friends have 'invented' an elaborate game with a continuing storyline involving stalking through the bushes and mangroves and climbing trees and tagging each other with wads of wet toilet paper shot out of PVC pipe (okay, okay, it's a blowgun). But we stopped by Home Depot to pick up a new length of pipe and she told the checkout lady that her purchases - 2 lengths of pipe and a pack of RV Bio-let paper (in case they don't get all the pieces picked up) - were for her blowgun and we nearly didn't get to purchase the stuff either. Thank goodness the lady was ESL, I don't think she quite caught on in time, I definitely hurried Marianna out the door that day.
But since it was right before Halloween, I guess I can understand why people might be suspicious.
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Becky Parker
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I just wonder if this guy didn't know someone who used something like this incorrectly or something. Sometimes our own experiences cause us to be overly protective or even paranoid. (I guess that's a little redundant!) My df got the book for her son and they went to Home Depot. The man that helped them thought is was great he just said be careful so no one gets hurt. Wish I had picked that store instead!
And Theresa, I was wishing I had this book when I taught 6th grade in a school! What a neat class project it would be.
Becky
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onemoretracy
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I was looking at this for my kids but I think they are too young (7,8) ? Maybe the catapult one would better. Any thoughts?
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Becky Parker
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This is only my opinion Tracy, but I agree that the kids may be a little too young. I think some of these things could potentially be dangerous and, there are some parts to making them that are just difficult. Now, if the kid's dad is interested, he'll have fun building them and the kids can be his helpers. The catapult book is really fascinating history - wise. My ds hasn't made anything yet but he reads it all the time. He loves the timelines included. So, I guess I haven't answered your question! To sum it up, if you think your husband would like to be involved in a big way, I say go for it. If your husband is like mine and works 60-65 hours a week, he might not have time or energy to help much and it would be a little too difficult for the kids. (IMHO)
Becky
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lapazfarm
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I agree. Not that the littler kids couldn't get alot out of it, but I think it is just perfect for the middle school years. I would save it for then, when you can just let them go out and "build something"!
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Theresa
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ALmom
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I'm curious about the danger part of it as I have a 9 yo that has been begging me for this for over a year. His birthday is coming up so he is almost 10 - but I bet my 12 yo and 6 yo will be joining in. He already makes all kinds of stuff from various books and has no trouble using the stove to cook breakfast (eggs, oatmeal) and has made up his own recipes for bread and cookies (some good, some not so good). I guess we were going to get it for him, but if it is truely a potential danger, depending on how dangerous - well, maybe we should wait.
However, I do tend to be a bit laid back and our dc do a lot of things that others seem to consider dangerous, so I guess it all depends. I'd love more specifics on the danger side so I have a better idea - also so I have some idea of safety rules before having to implement after the fact! My dc already have made catapults, blow guns, etc. out of sheer imagination many years ago. We had to nix the shooting of toothpicks from the blow gun (we were wondering why the kids always collected straws and toothpicks after eating out, we should have been quicker to figure it out but fortunately no one got hit before we did realize what they were doing )
Janet
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onemoretracy
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Thanks guys, I love the idea of saving it or middle years. That was my instinct, but it sounded so fun, I know my DH would love it, but it will be a neat male bonding thing for them all to do in a few more years.
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Backyard Ballistics
