Science Olympiad

It's been quite the exciting week at work---full of team-building and crazy challenges.

Earlier this fall, I attended a one-day Science Olympiad workshop in Pittsburgh, hosted by the Spectroscopy Society.  In the spring I hosted family science nights for K and 1st.  Grades 2-5 had their turn this week with some special activities.

Grade 2 built and raced Puff-Mobiles.

Grade 3 built and tested bridges.

Grade 4 built rockets, then launched them toward a designated target.

Today was the last day.  Grade 5 built support boxes for an egg drop.
Out of nine egg containers, only five came through the first round, a height of 40 inches.
Only one survived the second challenge, a height of 88 inches.
We were having so much fun, we dropped it down to our basement level---13 feet, 2 inches---and it rose from the ashes.
Unfortunately, it was unable to withstand the final drop from the second story window.

One of the designs, where the egg is suspended in a cup in the center of the box.

 The winning design, outfitted with balloons to create a little drag on the way down.

It's been a great week---a great way to end my year of teaching science lab K-5.  I'll be returning in the fall, so this summer I'll be busy putting together a second year's worth of activities that match our curriculum.  Suffice it to say, that's a fun summer job.