That sounds like a fantastic project to engage kids in coding and engineering! Since you're new to coding, I'll guide you through the steps you can take to learn and teach coding for this project using Arduino.
Understand the Basics of Arduino: Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software. Start by familiarizing yourself with Arduino by visiting their official website and exploring the beginner tutorials and documentation.
Learn the Basics of Coding: Before diving into coding for the catapult project, it's essential to understand the basics of coding. Websites like Codecademy, Khan Academy, and freeCodeCamp offer interactive courses on programming languages like C/C++, which is commonly used with Arduino.
Study Servo Control with Arduino: Learn how to control servos using Arduino. You can find tutorials and examples online that demonstrate how to connect and control servos with Arduino boards. This will involve understanding concepts like pulse width modulation (PWM) and how it relates to servo control.
Break Down the Catapult Functionality: Break down the functionality of the catapult into smaller tasks. Identify the actions the Arduino needs to control: rotating the catapult arm, tilting the catapult, and pulling back the arm to launch.
Design a Flowchart or Pseudocode: Before writing actual code, create a flowchart or pseudocode to outline the logical flow of your program. This will help you visualize the steps and plan your coding approach.