Posted on March 15, 2018 at 8:12 AM by Communications Department
Newport News elementary students learned how to move cargo during the latest Engineering Design Challenge, Shore to Store. The challenge gave second and third-grade students the opportunity to learn more about simple machines and their impact. Using furnished materials, teams of students representing each elementary school were given the task of designing and building a simple machine that could move a cargo container from the port yard to a train.
The design challenge was sponsored by the Port of Virginia and began with an introduction that explained six simple machines: wedge, inclined plane, wheel and axle, screw, pulley and lever. Students brainstormed with their teammates, drafted their designs, and built and tested their simple machines before presenting their machines to the judges. Student teams earned points based on design and functionality.
Yates Elementary earned first place; Hilton Elementary School's team took second place and Saunders Elementary School's team earned third place. The Design Challenge is part of the school district's ongoing STEM initiative.