submitted by Irvington Community Schools
When April rolls around, Irvington Community Elementary School’s three 4th grade classes put on their engineering hats — guided by second-career teacher Don Stallard, a “former” engineer, and collaborate in teams to develop air-powered vehicles (APVs). Their work culminates each spring in the annual ICES Air-Powered Vehicle Competition in the school gym.
The basics of the competition are to apply (Isaac) Newton’s 2nd and 3rd Laws of Motion in order to get a student team-built vehicle to go as fast and as far as it can, propelled by powerplants mounted on the vehicle itself. The 15 teams of 4th graders then demonstrate their vehicle design and engineering talents in front of an all-school convocation.
The APV competition has evolved over the years. Younger students see what lies ahead, and when it’s their turn they advance the design and performance capabilities of the vehicles. Initially, 12-inch balloons powered the more successful vehicles halfway across the gym floor. Then came rubber band toy airplane shafts as the power source. This was followed by the innovation of electric motors with battery power. This year, the most competitive APVs (all of which used electric current) not only reached the gym’s far wall but featured the built-in innovation of being able to reverse the circuit and head back across the floor.
Stallard’s fellow 4th grade teacher Kirsten Brandvik comments on this Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM)-based learning lesson, “I notice the kids gaining a deeper knowledge through exploration, through their own trial and error. This type of project has the added benefit of introducing new career paths to our students.”
ICES Principal Deanna Dehner adds, “This is a time-honored ICES tradition that our 4th graders always look forward to. The project provides opportunities for critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and so much more.” The parent-attended event brings the elementary school community together in a celebration of hands-on learning while hinting at days of future inventors to come. Indeed, renowned physicist and mathematician Sir Newton would be proud.
