STEM Design Challenge
STEM Design Challenge elevates awareness of the importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. Elementary-level students in Grades 4 & 5 participate in an exciting competition where they are tasked with designing, developing, and implementing a solution to an engineering problem. Students are scored on creativity, teamwork, and the success of the challenge.
2023 Challenge rules, judging criteria, specific parts of the completion, and award information coming in Fall 2022.
Rules (2022):
A team of 2-4 students will work together on the project.
This year we are asking students to create their project using recyclable materials and/or K’Nex.
Each team will need to create and submit a design notebook and a blueprint.
Each team will need to prepare and record a presentation (max 2 minutes) on their model and how they answered the challenge.
Judging Criteria (2022):
Creativity
Teamwork
Challenge Success
Design
Presentation
Awards:
Awards will be given to top three teams in grades 4-5 and grades 6-8
Top team in each division at each regional IU competition will advance to the state competition
Parts of the competition:
Design Notebook
This should be a journal of the team’s progress from start to finish.
The Notebook should include elements of the Engineering Design Process
Blueprint
A blueprint is a technical drawing or design plan for a project. It is used to represent the final product.
Blueprints for the STEM Design Challenge can be a photo, drawing, cad drawing, online sketch, etc. Be creative!
Prototype
Teams will answer the challenge by creating a prototype of their idea. This year teams may use recyclable materials or K’Nex pieces.
Teams may include a backdrop or artwork but judges will not consider this in their scoring.
Presentation
Teams are asked to share their ideas in a presentation for the judges via video.
Each presentation will be 2 minutes or less.
Every student on the team should present.
Judges may ask questions of the team after the presentation.