This is what we did on Friday.
Enter the 2018 Fluor Engineering Challenge for K-12 Students (from the website)
Who can enter? The 2018 Fluor Engineering Challenge is open to K-12 students around the world. Students can enter individually or as teams of up to four students. Only one entry per team is allowed.
What do I do? Build a device to launch a ball as far as possible, and another device to catch it, all from a limited list of materials like pencils, rubber bands, paper, and tape. The farther you can launch the ball (following the challenge rules) before it touches the ground, and the fewer materials you use, the higher your score.
Where is the challenge happening? Students can do this challenge anywhere! The 2018 Fluor Engineering Challenge is designed as a fun hands-on engineering project to do at home, in the classroom, or as part of an afterschool program.
When is the challenge taking place? Students may build and test their ball launchers anytime now through March 16, 2018. Entries may be submitted February 18, 2018 through March 16, 2018. All entries are due by midnight Pacific Time (GMT-8) on March 16, 2018.
Why should I enter? Building devices to send aluminum foil balls flying across the room is fun! Plus, there are bragging rights up for grabs. We will be posting top scores on our 2018 Fluor Engineering Challenge score board. Students from anywhere in the world, regardless of location, are eligible to participate in the competition to get their team name on the score board by completing the challenge and submitting their scores.
Additionally, Fluor will reward ten teams, drawn at random from the geographic locations listed below, with a $1,000 USD check for their school or afterschool program!
List of Supplies (from Science Buddies Website):
| Construction Materials | ||
|---|---|---|
| Item | Maximum Quantity | Point cost (each) |
| Corrugated cardboard base (max size 12"x12" or 30x30 cm) | 1 | 0 |
| Large paper or plastic cups (16–18 oz, or about 450–500 mL) | 4 | 50 |
| Wooden ruler or paint stirrer (12"/30 cm) | 2 | 100 |
| Paper (printer/copier paper, not construction paper or cardstock; letter or A4 size) | 10 | 10 |
| Wooden pencils (circular or hexagonal cross-section, approx. 7–8" or 18–20 cm length) | 10 | 10 |
| Rubber bands (size 32, 3" long unstretched and 1/8" wide) | 10 | 20 |
| Large paper clips (approx. 2" or 50 mm length) | 10 | 5 |
| Roll of clear adhesive tape (Scotch® tape or equivalent, 1/2" or 3/4" width, max length 500") | 1 | 100 |
Here are some pictures from our 6th graders. Enjoy!
There were even more variations, but my phone battery ran out. Too bad.
Isn't it amazing? The students were so creative! I did this project with the 6th graders because of the Fluor Engineering Challenge, but this is a great project on its own. The kids had a great time and learned even more in the process. I hope you try it with your children/students.
Have a wonderful day.
For your convenience, here is the previous blog post on the Fluor Engineering Challenge.
The best part? You still have time to enter? So, why don't you give it a try?
