What do you use to build a wind-powered elevator? Tape. Cardboard. Straws. And a string. Those were the only materials a Grade 6 student needed to make an elevator strong enough to lift a pair of earplugs up 10 centimeters.
At Western, more than 240 Grade 6-8 young scientists recently competed in the Let’s Talk Science Challenge. Through a science quiz show and hands-on design challenge, the students’ knowledge in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) was put to the test.
James Czerkawski, a St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School Grade 6 student was cheered on by teammates Cam Sartor and Ian Jordan, both in Grade 8, as he used wind power to lift a weighted string.
Let’s Talk Science is a national charitable youth development organization that aims to enrich students with science. The challenge is part of a national outreach program that ignites students’ passion in STEM.
“The programs we do keep the students engaged and interested in science as they move on through their studies,” said Maggie MacLellan, Let’s Talk Science communications officer. “So, they don’t close doors and decide to disengage with science and math early on when there might be jobs they like in the future that they don’t even know about yet.”