The "potato masher" hand grenade that the Germans used in Word War I consisted of an explosive at the end of a stick. This allowed even the most inexperienced soldier to be able to toss the grenade with a fair amount of accuracy. You can build a replica of the "potato masher" using paper, a metal can of soup from the grocery store and some household supplies. Your stick grenade won't actually cause any harm, but you can certainly toss it at any imaginary target you want to "blow up."
Instructions
1. Put newspaper down on a table. Put a piece of wax paper down on the newspaper. Put the flashlight on its side down on the table with the reflector facing to the left.
2. Shake the can of black spray paint. Spray the flashlight. Let the paint dry for 2 hours. Turn the flashlight over. Shake the can of black spray paint. Spray the flashlight. Let the paint dry for 2 hours.
3. Remove the wax paper from under the flashlight. Toss the wax paper into the garbage can.
4. Place a sheet of gray construction paper down on the newspaper. Stand the metal soup can on the gray construction paper.
5. Draw around the bottom of the metal soup can with the black magic marker. Remove the metal soup can from the gray construction paper.
6. Cut out the circle in the gray construction paper with the utility knife.
7. Put the cut out-circle on the gray construction paper. Cut around the circle with the utility knife to create a second cut-out circle.
8. Cut off one end of the metal soup can with a can opener. Empty out the metal soup can. Cut off the other end of the metal soup can with the can opener.
9. Stand the handle of the flashlight on the center of one of the two circles. Cut around the handle with the utility knife. Remove the circle that was just cut out from the inside of the cut-out circle with your fingers.
10. Stand the metal soup can on the newspaper. Wrap the other sheet of gray construction paper around the metal soup can. Secure the gray construction paper to the metal soup can at the top, middle and bottom with cellophane tape.
11. Cut off the excess gray construction paper from the top and bottom of the metal soup can using the utility knife.
12. Pull the metal soup can out of the gray construction paper cylinder. Discard the metal soup can in the trash properly.
13. Wad up some newspaper. Place wadded-up newspaper into the gray construction paper cylinder.
14. Apply white glue to one side of one of the circles that has the flashlight handle-sized circle cut out of its center. Put the side of the circle that has glue on it onto one end of the gray construction paper cylinder.
15. Push the circle down so that it adheres to the wadded-up newspaper inside of the gray construction paper cylinder.
16. Turn the gray construction paper cylinder over. Apply white glue to one end of the other cut-out circle. Place the end of the cut-out circle that has the glue on it onto the end of the gray construction paper cylinder.
17.Push the circle down so that it adheres to the wadded-up newspaper inside of the gray construction paper cylinder. Turn the gray construction paper cylinder over.
18. Insert the handle of the flashlight into the hole in the center of the cut-out circle. Apply bonding glue around the hole to cement the handle of the flashlight to the hole. Let the bonding glue dry for a day.
19. Pick up your "potato masher" grenade by the bottom of the flashlight. Pretend to activate the fuse and toss it at the "enemy."
Tags: construction paper, gray construction, gray construction paper, metal soup, construction paper cylinder, paper cylinder, cut-out circle
