Three fourth grade teams from Allentown School District awarded top prizes

The Da Vinci Science Center is pleased to announce that three fourth-grade teams from Allentown School District (ASD) were awarded top prizes at a regional Rube Goldberg Machine Contest^® held at the Da Vinci Science Center on Feb. 28.

• Mosser Elementary received the Rube Goldberg Spirit of Hilarious Invention Award, which is awarded for humor and surprise, along with unique transfers of energy

• Lehigh Parkway Elementary received the Rube Goldberg Teamwork Award, which is awarded for artistry, teamwork, and best use of a Slinky

• Hiram Dodd Elementary received the Professor Butts’ Creative Spark Award, which is awarded for creative use of everyday objects, as well as overall theme

In all, fourteen teams from ASD competed in the regional contest with the objective of finding the zaniest and complex way to complete the simple task of turning off a light. The three winning teams will move on to the national Rube Goldberg Machine Contest^® in Indiana this April.

“We could not be prouder of these students and all that they have accomplished over the past few weeks,” said Karen Knecht, Director of Education at Da Vinci Science Center. “They’ve demonstrated an incredible amount of teamwork, dedication, and problem-solving to get to this level of the competition, and it is our hope that they continue to explore these skills both in and out of the classroom.”

The RGMC^® is a fun and competitive forum that helps develop STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) knowledge, teamwork, and out-of-the-box problem-solving skills. Research demonstrates that using a project-based learning approach like the RGMC^® has positive results for students in science and math subjects. The objective is to collaborate with teachers to increase student core content knowledge, STEM skills, and college and career readiness.

This project is part of a comprehensive STEAM program in ASD Elementary Schools funded by The Century Fund. Additional support for ASD teacher professional development and themed programs is provided by PPL Foundation, Harry C. Trexler Trust, and Bosch Community Fund.