CO2 Cars

Sixth graders will demonstrate their CO2 cars during STEMFest this year, showcasing their studies in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). The CO2 car project is the 6^thgrade’s third STEAM project this year, so students are becoming increasingly familiar with the engineering design process. To begin, 6th graders learned key concepts and skills related to Newton's laws of motion. In science class they built and tested catapults, bridges, and rockets, observing the properties of force, gravity, inertia, and velocity at work. In math class they learned about ratios and rates, and they practiced measuring the rate of speed by testing last year’s CO2 cars. 

 

 

Armed with this knowledge, 6th graders were ready to begin designing their CO2 cars. Students cycled through the process of ideation, creation, and iteration. They brainstormed ideas and created scaled blueprints and three-dimensional prototypes. Once their designs reached the prototype stage, students took the time to reflect and make adjustments before crafting their final product in balsa wood. Sixth graders took charge of every detail of their car designs, from the curve of the hood down to the decals. "Taking an idea and making it real, that's true artistry," says Middle School Academic Technologist Matt Fratt who led the project with Art Teacher David Vickers and Math and Science Teacher Lucas Kelley. 

 

Weeks after the students first encountered Newton's third law—"For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction"—it was finally race day. The hallway was lined with chairs for spectators as two-by-two, 6th graders lock their cars in the starter box. Within a fraction of a second, two cars speed down the hall and smashed into a pile of coats—one car victorious.

 

Come see the CO2 cars race live at STEMFest on Mar. 11 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. For more information on the event check out the STEMFest web page.