CDS third grade students were eager to use their science and engineering skills to respond to a challenge presented by the City of Tampa to third graders across Hillsborough County: Using limited resources, design an environmentally friendly mode of transportation powered only by wind!

Using the scientific process, the students worked in pairs to complete this design challenge. Each pair came up with a solution, built a prototype, tested it, modified and retested it and then put their Wind Racer up against their classmates’ creations. The pair that won from each third grade class then competed against the winners from the other third grade classes. Congratulations to Alivia F. and Madden M. from Mrs. Vargo's class for being the overall winners at CDS.

Their Wind Racer went 13ft 1in! It was awesome! We are proud to have Alivia and Madden represent CDS at the Hillsborough County Science Olympics on Saturday, November 6^th at MOSI – Museum of Science and Industry. There they will compete against third graders from across Hillsborough County! At the Science Olympics they will have ten minutes to recreate their wind racer before racing in two trials to capture the win.

Activities like Science Olympics strengthen student motivation and interest in science and engineering. Projects like these develop the problem-solving skills that align with CDS’s mission to create entrepreneurial thinkers who will use their talents and interests to better the world and themselves.

Thank you to Mrs. Vargo, along with the rest of our third grade team, Mrs. Haywood, Mrs. Lisi, and Ms. Mianne for bringing science and engineering to life for our students.