Madera County’s middle school students (including Mountain Home School Charter students) will be putting their minds to the test during this year’s first STEM Games. Students will participate in up to four competitions throughout the day: Code Busters, Formula Race, Machine Masters, and Surge Showdown Friday at Madera Community College.
During Code Busters, teams of three students will work to decode 20 encrypted messages using cryptanalysis technics for historical and modern advanced ciphers. During Formula Race, teams will race to be the first team to answer four questions correctly, each student answering one question. At the Machine Masters competition, teams will run machines they designed in advance. Students will drop a golf ball into the machine, starting a series of actions that will end with a bell ringing. During Surge Showdown, teams will launch tennis balls using a launcher they built in advance. Teams will try to launch the ball closest to two different targets.
Nearly 100 students from ten teams from throughout Madera County will participate. Each school is allowed one seventh grade and one eighth grade team.
“We are thrilled to launch Madera County’s first-ever STEM Games, where students will put their creativity and problem-solving skills to the test,” said Dr. Elisa Torres-Barton, assistant superintendent, Madera County Superintendent of Schools. “This event fosters innovation, and we can’t wait to see the incredible ideas our students bring to life.”
Teams will receive ribbons for first and second place in each event.
Students will compete in all four competitions before lunch where they will be served pizza. Teams will be awarded ribbons after lunch.
Participating schools include: James Madison Elementary School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, Mountain Home School Charter, Ranchos Middle School, and Sherman Thomas STEM Academy.
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