Elementary Design Contest
DESCRIPTION:
The Elementary Contest presents teams with an open-ended design challenge that must be solved within the criteria and constraints indicated. In addition to solving the problem and documenting the process, teams must provide evidence of understanding how the activity could be integrated into the elementary curriculum (as is, or with team recommended modifications). The team is expected to provide a rationale for the activity, and give suggestions on how it might be effectively integrated at the appropriate elementary grade level(s).
MATERIALS:
Some materials will be provided at the competition by the contest coordinator. Teams are expected to bring the following tools and materials with them to the contest. These items are not provided at the site and this list constitutes the only items that contest participants may use outside of the items provided by the contest coordinator.
1. Miter box and saw (back saw and/or dovetail saw) [You will be cutting only small pieces of wood, so simple custom-built miter boxes are fine. No power saws allowed.]
2. Two C-clamps (for holding miter box to table safely)
3. 2-4 small spring clamps
4. Hand drill (power or manual)
5. Standard drill bits (various sizes, including 3/16” and ¼”)
6. Wire strippers/cutters or pliers (e.g., lineman’s pliers)
7. Small pieces of abrasive paper (100-220 grit)
8. Regular #2 pencils
9. Standard rulers (12-18” English or Metric)
10. Safety glasses (one pair per member)
11. Standard size handheld paper hole punch (single punch) or heavy-duty craft hole punch
12. White glue and/or carpenter’s glue
13. Glue sticks (roll-up type for gluing paper products)
14. Glue gun with hot glue sticks
15. Scissors
16. Markers (various “fine” and “bold” sizes)
17. Colored pencils
18. [Optional] Pencil sharpener (simple, handheld one to keep pencils and colored pencils sharp. There is no sharpener in the contest room.)
19. Standards for Technological Literacy book (ITEA, 2000) or chart of National Technology Content standards
20. Up to two other books of choice (books related to elementary technology education, state standards, design, modeling, and communications would be of particular benefit)
SCHEDULE
The competition may run from approximately 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The schedule below is an estimation of what will occur and is subject to change.
- 9:30 a.m. – Contest introduction by judges
- Approximately 9:45 a.m. – Teams begin to solve problem
- 12:00 noon – Work time ends and testing/presenting begins
- Approximately 12:45 p.m. – Clean-up work areas
- 1:00 p.m.– Contest concludes (judges continue to evaluate)
TEAMS
- Up to 10 teams allowed (maximum of one per university)
- Each team may consist of 2 – 3 TECA students
- There can be no more than one graduate student per team
