Rubber Band Car Challenge – Winners!

It’s off to the races you go!

Download the Rubber Band Car Challenge

Imagination Station challenged area classrooms to stretch the limits of science with rubber bands. The Rubber Band Car Challenge was issued in early spring and received a number of admissions over the course of its run. Classes were asked to create a car, powered only by rubber bands, that traveled the furthest distance. The only REQUIRED material to use was a standard-sized rubber band. No more than five rubber bands were permitted per car. The cars were required to be powered solely by the rubber band(s). No motors.

Entries were received through May 11, 2010 and the winning car’s classroom will receive an Extreme Science Demonstration for their entire school. The winning cars are on display in Imagination Station’s Science Studio.

Congratulations to our winners!

First Place
LaGrange Elementary School

Luke McKinley’s 5th Grade Class
‘Lightning Rod’
117ft.+ (This was the longest hallway available. It could have traveled further.)

Second Place
St. Charles Borroneo

Darlene O’Donnell’s 5th Grade Class
223 1/2 inches

Third Place
Hill View Elementary School

Pamela Rentner’s 5th Grade Class
‘Zoomer’
196 inches

You can download the Rubber Band Car Challenge by clicking on the image above. The contest is now over, but the activities included contain lasting and important scientific inquiry lessons. All it requires is some ingenuity and a rubber band.