This evening was the second annual Maple Avenue Engineering Competition, a wonderful event to show the accomplishments and creativity of young students. The task this year was to create a device that could putt a golf ball into a hole. While this task may sound simple, each team had to incorporate at least three simple machines, be creative, as well as perform and work well as a group. Paige, Will and I were there to help out the teams as mentors if they needed an extra hand. Every group had a fantastic and unique approach to the problem and were so driven they needed very little help from us or any of the other adults. I was amazed with the level of work these students were able to turn out in such a short time period of two hours. Groups used motors, inclined planes, screws, wedges, pulleys, wheel and axles, and gears to create their project. They used techniques that I couldn't have even dreamed of when I was in middle school. I was very proud to say that I got to witness the making of these devices and I greatly applaud all the technology teachers at Maple for their hard work. Even though tonight was a competition, the real winners are all the students who attacked this challenge with enthusiasm and made their ideas a reality. Keep working hard, be creative, and think big.
Above are pictures of Team 1 working hard on their project, as well as Paige and Will ready to give a helping hand.
