Keeneyville students shine in Science Olympiad

Thirty-seven students in grades three through five in Greenbrook and Waterbury schools in Keeneyville Elementary District 20 recently competed in Illinois' first Elementary Science Olympiad.

The youngsters competed in 10 different events, ranging from identifying characteristics of backyard birds to trying to build the longest bridge capable of carrying the weight of two chalkboard erasers for 10 seconds.

Participating students met after school since February to learn about the science and engineering design events that made up the competition that also included question and answer sessions involving anatomy, weather and rocks.

In addition, students competed in engineering challenges that included designing and flying paper airplanes the greatest distance possible; measuring length, mass, and temperature correctly; identifying mystery powders; building a container to protect an egg as it was launched toward a target; and constructing the bridge.

Students from Greenbrook Elementary School took home medals in four events, including: Trajectory (launching an egg in a container), Metric Mastery, Aerodynamics (paper airplane flying), and Bridge Building.

Students from Waterbury Elementary School won a first-place medal for Bridge Building and a medal in Backyard Birding.

Four District 20 teachers, Jana Stevens, Jen Engstrom, Nicole Johnson and Jamie VandenBrink, coached students as they prepared to compete. Eleven other schools in northern Illinois also competed in the event.