Good luck to the 286 students in grades 3-5 who will take on fun engineering and science challenges in the 30th annual District 64 Science Olympiad this Saturday, February 6 at 9:00 a.m. at Emerson Middle School, 8101 N. Cumberland, Niles.
This year, 152 girls and 134 boys will work in teams and represent their home elementary schools in one of five different events. Each event is co-sponsored by one of the elementary school PTO/As.
"We are proud to have sponsored the Olympiad as an extracurricular event for 30 years now to nurture student interest in science and engineering at an age when students are really beginning to delve into deeper concepts in the intermediate grades," Superintendent Laurie Heinz noted.
"Literally thousands of District 64 students -- across a generation -- have enjoyed stretching themselves with these hands-on challenges, and many have gone on to take more advanced courses in high school and beyond and even to pursue careers in these fields, because of this experience," Dr. Heinz added.
"As we look ahead in science, we are excited to be introducing the new Next Generation Science Standards for Illinois that better reflect 'the science' of how to engage all students in grades K-8 during their core science studies, too," Dr. Heinz noted.
In addition to hundreds of student participants, the Olympiad also engages almost an equal number of adults.
"It is truly a family activity, as we consistently have about 200 parents who volunteer as coordinators, coaches, and judges," noted Dr. Tony Clishem, District 64 curriculum specialist for science, health and social studies who coordinates the event.
"Without their ongoing support, our Olympiad would never have survived to reach this remarkable milestone," he added.
The five Olympiad competition events this Saturday are:
- Rubber Band Catapult: Teams of two design and construct a catapult that shoots a rubber band at a target placed within a chosen range. Students also present a graph of previous practice results. Winners are based on shooting accuracy plus quality of graph.
- Mystery Box: Teams of two identify the characteristics of mystery objects using senses other than sight. Students record their observations on a data chart. The team with the most accurate observations wins the competition.
- Aerodynamics: Partners design a paper airplane and throw for accuracy at a target 8 meters (26.3 feet) away. The team that throws with the greatest accuracy wins the competition.
- Egg Drop: Teams of two make an egg catching device that will prevent a raw egg from breaking when dropped from increasing heights. Winners are based on highest drops without damage to the egg.
- Structures: Teams of two build skyscraping structures with straws and pins. Students who build the tallest, freestanding structure win the competition.
Students who finish their event in first, second, or third place will receive gold, silver, or bronze medals.
More information is available on the Science Olympiad Webpage.