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Elementary Engineering

The Engineering competition is designed for a team of three to five students to use innovative problem solving techniques and engineering concepts. Teams will use items from a specified list and will be required to interact with judges during the competition. A club may have only one entry.

**Time Limit: 45 Minutes **

Competition Guidelines

Elementary Construction - Zipline

  • Each club may enter one team of three to five students.
  • Teams will be given forty-five (45) minutes to construct and ninety (90) seconds to demonstrate and explain the project.
  • The invention must be constructed on a piece of foam board 30 inches by 40 inches. This piece of foam board will be separate from the materials container.
  • The invention may have parts that suspend beyond the board, but cannot be braced/tethered/supported by anything (i.e. wall or floor) other than the board.
  • The team must use items from the specified list and materials must fit into a closed 10 gallon plastic storage container with a lid.
  • All construction must be done on-site. No steps can be preassembled, construction pieces must be separate and the board must be free of any writing or marks. Electricity will not be available.

Educational Connections

  • Engineering and Innovation
  • Communication and Collaboration
  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
  • Scale and Measurement
  • Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM)
  • Students will investigate and find solutions, designs, and strategies from an infinite number of possibilities using inquiry, collaboration, and process-based learning.

Approved Materials List

The team must use ONLY the items from the specified list of materials below. Materials must fit into a closed 10 gallon container with lid. Teams will be responsible for all materials and the foam board needed for the build.

Approved Materials    
Thread spools Cans Toothpicks
Toothbrushes Index cards Paper clips
Sandwich bags Craft sticks Boxes
Matchbox car Newspaper Playing cards
Marbles Aluminum foil Paper plates
Dice Egg cartons String
Tape Adhesives Balloons
Rubber Bands Paper Fasteners Scissors
Straws Wheels Modeling Clay
Tinker Toys Zip Ties Magnets
Cotton Balls Card Stock Batteries
Battery operated glue gun with glue sticks Balls (plastic, metal, rubber) Cups (paper,plastic, or styrofoam)
Plastic Toys Cardboard Cork
Spoons Plastic Bottles Dried Beans
Clothes Pins Ruler Shoelaces
Dominoes Pipe Cleaners Wire
Cardboard Tubes Legos Writing Utensils

How to Enter

  • Visit www.betaclub.org/events/conventions and follow directions.
  • Register students and then select competitions to enter.
  • Bring 30” by 40” foam board and container of materials to convention.

National Eligibility

All Plaques Awarded at State Convention

Judging Criteria

Engineering 16-20 11-15 6-10 1-5
Complexity Structure displays excellent complexity of the steps used in the build. Structure displays good complexity of the steps used in the build. Structure displays average complexity of the steps used in the build. Structure displays minimal complexity of the steps used in the build.
Creativity Structure exhibits excellent creative solution in all aspects of the challenge. Structure exhibits good creative solution in all aspects of the challenge. Structure exhibits average creative solution in all aspects of the challenge. Structure exhibits minimal creative solution in all aspects of the challenge.
Critical Thinking Students exhibit excellent ability to consider alternatives to the design and construction during the process. Students exhibit good ability to consider alternatives to the design and construction during the process. Students exhibit average ability to consider alternatives to the design and construction during the process. Students exhibit minimal ability to consider alternatives to the design and construction during the process.
Team Communication Displays excellent communication and collaboration throughout the entire process. Displays good communication and collaboration throughout the entire process. Displays average communication and collaboration throughout the entire process. Displays minimal communication and collaboration throughout the entire process.
Overall Quality Structural integrity and demonstration of challenge are excellent. Structural integrity and demonstration of challenge are good. Structural integrity and demonstration of challenge are average. Structural integrity and demonstration of challenge are minimal.
Deductions This will be taken one time by the coordinator. Did not follow competition guidelines -10    

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