A team of Partnership Elementary students qualified at the NC Odyssey of the Mind state tournament on April 4 at Wingate College to compete in the world competition in Ames, Iowa in May. The Partnership team came in second in the Shockwaves problem. The team includes Carol Seigler, Riley Falk, Ginger Dudley, Julianne Cinoman, Kelvin Graham, Rhett Dudley and Hannah Koszegi. Coaches are Kathy Garnier and Mary Hunter Martin. Our weight loader is Chris Trotto.
In the Odyssey of the Mind competition, teams of students choose to compete in creatively solving one of five problems. In the Shockwaves problem, teams are required to design and build a structure out of balsa wood and glue that will balance and support as much weight as possible while absorbing shockwaves. The team will test its structure by placing weights onto it. During specific intervals the team will place one or two spacers on the top weight and will then place a weight on them. The team will remove the spacers so the top weight falls onto the stack causing a shockwave. The team will add weight until its structure breaks or time ends. The team will also create and use an original method to place its structure onto the tester and will incorporate the testing of the structure into a performance. The Partnership Elementary students designed a structure that held 643 pounds.
Thanks to Partnership Elementary teacher Mary Martin for sharing this story.