After a three-year break, the Elementary Science Olympiad has returned with a bang. Two hundred and seventy students from third grade through fifth grade gathered at Chattanooga State to participate in twenty-four STEM-related activities.
Jameson Cavanagh, an Olympiad competitor in fourth grade, was one of the participants. He explained that one of the tasks involved building a device out of certain materials to protect an egg. Cavanagh partnered with Brennan Yann and the two successfully completed the egg drop task without breaking their egg. Yann described another task where they had to throw the egg into a target from a specific height.
Other competitors, such as Samara Brigner and Lainey Stalans, focused on different activities like sky quest, which tested their knowledge of constellations. Brigner mentioned that they learned about the strength of different materials, with paper and Styrofoam being effective choices. Stalans explained her involvement in an activity called ‘name that scientist,’ matching scientists to their inventions.
Megan Bragg, an associate professor of chemistry at Chattanooga State, played a key role in organizing the event. She oversaw stations like ‘bridge-a-roni,’ where students tested pasta pieces to see how much weight they could hold. Bragg emphasized the importance of STEM events in encouraging students to explore math and science further, possibly leading to future career opportunities.
Bragg believed that developing interests at a young age could potentially lead students to pursue careers in STEM fields. She expressed the joy of seeing students engage in the activities and gain educational benefits while having fun. Cavanagh and Yann agreed that the Olympiad was both enjoyable and educational, highlighting the positive impact of participating in such events.
Overall, the Elementary Science Olympiad provided an excellent opportunity for young minds to learn about science and technology while having fun. With more events like this one happening across different communities around the world, we can hope for more bright minds pursuing careers in STEM fields in future years.
