Brookwood School

Working in teams of four the students were asked to design and construct a track on which a marble could travel and build sufficient momentum to ultimately sound a buzzer, at the track’s end, for a minimum of five seconds. There were three requirements: 1.) the marble must travel a minimum of 50 cm; 2.) the marble must make at least two 90-degree turns; and 3.) the marble and structure cannot be touched once the marble starts its journey on the track.
     The budding engineers spend about two weeks designing, building, and testing their structures, most of which were created with recycled materials from home (gift-wrap tubes were popular this year). The electronics and lots of duct tape were provided.
     On the day the creations were put to the test, the atmosphere in the room was electric, even if the buzzers weren’t. Children paced the floor, crossed their fingers, implored the heavens, and begged that their buzzer PULL- LEEE-EZE  buzz.
     There were some successes, some duds, some collapsing towers, some run-away marbles, but many lessons were learned. With their diligence and creative approaches, these young scientists discovered not only how to design, build and test a complex system but also how to work with a team; how to try out ideas even if you are not convinced they will work; how to test an idea and fail, and learn productively from failure.
     In the end, it was clear that the “light bulb” of inspiration had been turned on for each and every student.
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