The real fans already know that yet another year of intense mouse trap racing competition has already come and gone. It wasn’t that long ago when the grade eight classroom became a workshop, and the hallway outside became a testing ground for these engineering marvels and their proud creators.
If you haven’t heard of this competition before, then you’ve chosen a great year to become a fan. When the race day finally came, mouse-trap powered cars were travelling further distances than ever before and at speeds that you would have to see to believe! But first, let’s go back to the start.
A mouse trap powered car is a fantastic demonstration of a science concept called mechanical advantage. This physics concept is the reason why human beings invented levers, pulleys, wheels, and ramps and have used them successfully for thousands of years. Here is the deal: it is possible to make a strategic trade of distance and force. A mouse trap, for example. moves with a HIGH force for a SHORT distance – just about 10cm. But with a solid understanding of mechanical advantage, grade eight students made mousetrap-powered cars which travelled using a LOW force for a LONG distance – up to 25 meters! This style of project enabled our clever students to work through the engineering process and to refine their design through experimentation. Our Wesley scientists did an outstanding job!
This year our race was incredibly competitive, as the student creations all flew across the gymnasium neck-and-neck for a real photo finish. Spirits were high as cheers erupted for their own success and for the success of their peers. The grade eight students showed their pride and perseverance from start to finish with positive attitudes, innovative thinking, and many, MANY hours of problem solving. When all was said and done students reflected on the process, had an interview with their teacher, and took part in a wholesome award ceremony.
Every year I am amazed by the grade eights at Wesley and I continue to thank God for the opportunity to watch them grow. Through challenges, God is working to make us all into the best people we can be for his kingdom. I am glad to report that the grade eights faced this challenge head on, and are walking away from it with new insights, new skills, and maybe just a little bit more patience.
Thanks for reading.
