Welcome to the Challenges!
The Maryland Engineering Challenges are a fun and engaging activity for children, in or out of the classroom, and are open to any school-age child.
To participate in the Challenges students need an adult Coach usually a teacher or parent to complete the registration process and provide assistance when needed.
First, go to www.thebmi.org and click "Programs" then ?Engineering Challenges. Read the Guide to Entry and Challenge Guide.
Each Challenge Guide gives important dates, workshops, report due dates, competition times?and contact information for the engineers in charge. Please contact the engineers with questions about project specifications, report requirements, or event judging Our engineers have been volunteering with the Maryland Engineering Challenges for years and are available to help.
Once students chose a challenge, Coaches should register teams at tp1.clearlearning.com/ hshealey/EC.tp4 then mail the Coaches Registration Fee as directed. Questions about the registration process or fee should be sent to Melinda Cané at mcane@thebmi.org
Finally, two Coaches' Workshops provide the information and hands-on practice necessary for Coaches to effectively support students. An Information Session is held in November, where engineers give an overview of their challenge. A Hands-On Workshop in January is an opportunity to explore the practical aspects of certain challenges.
What's Next?
Interested in the Challenges but not sure where to start? Come to the Coaches' Information Session on November 11, 2010, 4 pm to 7 pm. Interested adults can learn more about the Challenges and meet the engineers with each challenge. They will answer questions, explain challenge requirements, and demonstrate past projects. Details about Hands-On Workshops and resource materials will be available. Future City will not attend the Information Session.
If interested, contact Ray Moravec at r_moravec@wallacemontgomery.com before their Oct. 29 registration deadline. The Robot Challenge will hold a Hands-On Workshop at the Information Session. Registration is required, just email Melinda Cané at mcane@thebmi.org Registration for the Information Session is strongly encouraged, email Melinda for details.
Elementary School Level
PAPER AIRPLANE | Grades 1 to 5
Competition: Jan. 29, 2011
Design a paper airplane to
safely and accurately fly a
paperclip "passenger" as far
as possible. Teams of four
students will use an assembly
line to produce their airplane
in three minutes then each
student will perform a test
flight.
SAFE RACER | Grades 2 to 3
Competition: Feb. 26, 2011
Build a sports car to allow
"Eggbert" to survive a crash
test and distance trial. Cars
must be constructed from recycled
materials and feature
safety equipment to protect
Eggbert (an uncooked egg) yet
stay within size and weight
limits.
THEME PARK | Grades 4 to 5
Competition: Mar. 26, 2011
Construct a moving theme park
ride based on a literature curriculum
reading. The vehicle of
the ride must carry four people
at a time and should be as automated
as possible. Students will
explain how the ride reflects the
theme of the chosen literature
reading.
Middle School Level
FUTURE CITY | Grades 7 to 8
Competition: Jan. 15, 2011
Design a city using Sim-
City software, and build
a model, to address
various areas of urban
planning, focusing on a
given theme. Winners
may be eligible for a
national event.
HOVERCRAFT | Grades 6 to 8
Competition: Mar. 26, 2011 at MSU
Build a Hovercraft that
can race across the
Chesapeake Bay as
though presenting to
the State of Maryland.
Competition event
held at MSU’s Engineering
Building.
STRAW BRIDGE | Grades 6 to 8
Competition: Apr. 30, 2011
Construct the lightest
possible plastic-straw
bridge to support a 6.5-
lb. weight for one minute.
A model truck will be
"driven" on and off a
cardboard roadbed on
the bridge for testing.
ECO-POWER | Grades 6 to 8
Competition: May 1, 2011
Design a wind turbine to
power LED lights in a
schematic model of a
school. Complete an environmental
impact
study for positioning the
turbine and tower on
school property.
High School Level
WOOD BRIDGE | Grades 9 to 12
Competition: Jan. 15, 2011
Design a structurally efficient
bridge to hold
the maximum load.
Bridges are tested until
often spectacular
failure. Winners may be
eligible for a national
event.
CARGO AIRPLANE | Grades 9 to 12
Competition: Feb. 12, 2011 at GLM
Construct an electric
airplane to fly with and
without cargo. Plane
will be tethered to a
power pole. Competition
event held at GLM
Museum’s Education
Center.
ROBOT | Grades 9 to 12
Competition: Apr. 30 & May 1, 2011
Construct a two- or
four-leg robot to walk
under direction over
uneven terrain. Robots
must be manually controlled
or add an automation
element for bonus
points.
CARGO SHIP | Grades 9 to 12
Competition: May 1, 2011
Design and demonstrate
a scale radio-controlled
ship to carry containerized
cargo over a water
course. Cargo will be
presented as eight 5-lb.
bags of sugar to be carried
in the Inner Harbor.
Did you know?
THE ENGINEERING SOCIETY OF BALTIMORE is the cultural capital for Engineering in the Baltimore Metropolitan area. The Engineers Club of Baltimore was started just a year after the devastating fire of Baltimore in 1904, as a way to develop standards and share information for the subsequent rebuilding of the city. Carrying on the tradition, the ESB has been instrumental in educating countless professionals for half a century. The ESB, housed in the Garrett Jacobs Mansion, is the meeting place for engineering interests in the city and surrounding area.