Students from Pine Crest School launch a water rocket May 2 during the FAU Science Olympiad.
More than 250 elementary schoolers came to compete from counties as far north as Indian River
and as far south as Miami-Dade.
Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Tao Woolfe
A distinctive migratory pattern can be observed each spring as science-minded children flock, parents in tow, to Florida Atlantic University to display their skills at the FAU Science Olympiad.
This year, more than 250 competitors came from counties as far north as Indian River and as far south as Miami-Dade. The elementary-school-aged children were put through their paces in a daylong series of events testing their knowledge in everything from aeronautics to weather.
There were some unusual teams this year, including a group of Boca Raton home-schooled kids and a group from the Boca Raton Boys and Girls Club who were tutored by Anna Shea, a science whiz from Oxbridge Academy.
Here are some of the events they tackled:
Aerodynamics: Each two-member team built two paper airplanes built onsite.
A is for Anatomy: The event consisted of questions about structure and function of the following systems: respiratory, circulatory.
Chopper Challenge: This event tested students’ ability to build a helicopter onsite.
Cool It: A team of two students constructed a container onsite that prevented an ice cube from melting.
Crime Busters: Participants used tests to identify unknown powders, match fingerprints and used paper chromatography to identify a crime suspect.
Fossil Find: Teams demonstrated their knowledge of ancient life by completing selected tasks at a series of stations.
Map Reading: Teams were given questions to be answered by using various maps.
Pentathlon: Five physical skills were interspersed with science questions in an obstacle course.
Simple Machines: Students were asked to identify, use and answer questions about simple machines.
Straw Egg Drop: Students made a device onsite of straws and masking tape, to hold a large raw egg. The device was dropped from a fixed height to a target.
Water Rockets: Students built and launched a 2-liter plastic bottle for maximum time aloft.
Weather or Not: The competition tested the students’ knowledge of meteorological terms, techniques and events.
The competition was the brainchild of Ingrid Johanson, the Florida Science Olympiad’s regional director, and a professor at FAU.
“It’s a great way to give kids some hands-on experience in science. That’s how they learn,” Johanson said. “These experiments are simple but effective.”
The winners of the competition can go on to compete at the regional, state and national levels, Johanson said. FAU also hosts an Olympiad each year for middle and high school students.
Johanson is assisted each year by dozens of volunteers, including Doug Bloch, of Boca Raton, a retired IBM executive who loves to get involved with the FAU Olympiads.
“When I was a kid I was just interested in surfing, really. In eighth grade year, I took a summer class in marine science, and the teacher, Dr. Gordon Gilbert, inspired me. He went on to start Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, and that class changed my life.” Bloch said.
“I like to think the FAU Science Olympiads might inspire these kids in the same way.”
Comments