Fifth-Grade Engineers Will Compete in SDPC Jet Toy Challenge

Fifth-grade design teams and their balloon-powered toy cars will compete at the 2013 SDPC Jet Toy Challenge on Tuesday, February 19 at the Pickens County Career and Technology.

“Students use principles that professional engineers use,” said Dr. Barbara Nesbitt, the district’s coordinator of elementary education. “It’s amazing to watch the excitement as the students build the cars. They learn complex concepts while being completely engaged.”

The program offers curriculum that blends science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) lessons.

Fifth-grade teachers learned about the JetToy Challenge when they attended training for the Society of Automotive Engineers’ A World in Motion program.

In the JetToy Challenge, a fictitious toy company asks students to provide a variety of interesting designs for a new line of balloon-powered vehicles that will appeal to other children. The vehicles are made from inexpensive, common materials. Working in design teams, students build and test model JetToys using different nozzles. Then, they collect and analyze data to understand the effect of nozzle size on the performance of the toys.

Approximately 180 students from all 16 Pickens County elementary schools will participate. Three teams will represent each participating school. Teams were selected during classroom challenges.

The two teams with the highest points will advance to the regional challenge, competing with teams from Anderson 1, Anderson 2, Anderson 3, Anderson 4, Anderson 5 and Oconee school districts. The regional competition, held at Daniel High School on March 1, will determine which team will advance to international competition in Detroit.

The Career and Technology Center is located at 990 Chastain Road in Liberty, and the competition begins at 9:00 a.m.