Oley Valley students compete in K’nex competition

Eight teams of fourth- and fifth-graders as well as four middle school teams competed at the annual K’NEX competition at the Berks County IU in March. This year’s competition challenged students to construct an environmentally friendly amusement park ride. In addition to the design and construction of the ride, teams had to create blueprints, a journal of their STEM-process journey, a budget and a presentation showcasing their final product. An essential element of the competition throughout the exciting day-long learning opportunity was demonstrating teamwork. Some of the innovative approaches used by students included using solar panels, designing wind turbines to reduce air pollution, elevating a ride on stilts to protect the ecosystem below, and educating riders about the importance of saving the rainforests.