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Toy Challenge
Bringing Science to Life
By Kelly Burgess
Teams that are chosen to present their ideas at the national competition are notified in early March. The top 50 or 60 teams get a cash award to help them finance their trip to nationals. At the national competition, teams present their prototypes and explain their processes to the judges.
Alyssa Hansen, who has had experience in school science competitions, said her experience in the TOY Challenge finals was very different. "When I competed in the Science Fair, those judges were interested in the facts and figures, but not so much in things like ideas or thoughts," says Hansen. "In TOY Challenge, the judges care more about the actual toy and how you have overcome challenges using science. They care about your facts and figures, but your ideas and thoughts are important, too."
In trying to solve the dilemma of our children's declining interest and involvement in science, educators may want to examine competition models such as TOY Challenge and Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge. As these kids can testify, they don't shy away from being challenged by science, but they'll turn away when they aren't.