Sally Ride Science Invites Imaginative Kids to Enter Sixth Annual TOYchallenge Engineering Design Competition
The mission of this fun-fueled toy design competition is to motivate kids, especially girls, to get involved in engineering, see that engineering is in everything, and experience engineering as fun, creative, collaborative, and relevant to everyday life.
“Now, more than ever, it is important to provide young people, especially girls, with science experiences that take them out of the classroom and into the world,” said Sally Ride, founder of Sally Ride Science. “Making science fun and relevant to them will help to positively influence the workforce of the future.”
“TOYchallenge offers an opportunity to inspire young people to develop through learning and see the value in teamwork,” said Sandra Evers-Manly, president of the Northrop Grumman Foundation. “This is one way we are connecting with middle-school students to get them excited about math, science and engineering.”
Creative girls and boys can easily join in the fun. The competition is open to fifth through eighth graders in the U.S., its territories, or possessions, and Canada during the Fall 2007/Spring 2008 school year. Team size can range from three to six members, half of which must be girls. To get started, teams: find an adult coach (18 years of age, or older) and sign up by December 12 (fee is $45 per team); then choose from themed-toy categories including “Games for the Family,” “Get out and Play,” and “Toys That Teach” and start brainstorming.
Further TOYchallenge information is available at www.TOYchallenge.com. All submissions will be judged on originality, creativity, engineering, feasibility, design process description, team participation and clarity of communication.
Last year’s grand prizes included a trip to Space Camp®. Category prize winning teams were also chosen with each member receiving a certificate, medal, and a VEX robot. Each team also took home a trophy. Category Honorable Mention teams received Thames & Kosmos® science kits. There were also other special awards including for originality, presentation and team spirit.
TOYchallenge (www.TOYchallenge.com) is designed to engage middle school-age students, especially girls, in science and engineering and to inspire them to pursue careers in those fields. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women comprise only 11 percent of the engineering workforce. However, studies show that, in elementary school, equal numbers of girls and boys are interested in--and good at--math, science and technology. Unfortunately, beginning around the sixth grade, more girls than boys drift away from these subjects. While open to all U.S. and Canadian students in grades five through eight, TOYchallenge focuses on catching girls’ attention in these subjects in order to keep them in the engineering “pipeline.” Northrop Grumman returns as the competition’s presenting sponsor. Southwest Airlines is the official airline of TOYchallenge for the fourth year in a row.
Sally Ride Science
Sally Ride Science™, founded by astronaut Sally Ride, is an innovative content company dedicated to fueling young people’s interests in science, math, and technology. Our publications and programs provide opportunities for girls and boys to explore the captivating world of science – from astrobiology to zoology. Our programs include Sally Ride Science Festivals, TOYchallenge™, Sally Ride Science Camps, and Sally Ride Science –After-School Programs. Our publications include award-winning science books, science career books, a science newsletter, and Classroom Sets to supplement science instruction. Sally Ride Science brings science to life and shows young people that science is creative, collaborative, fascinating, and fun. To learn more, visit www.SallyRideScience.com or call 800.561.5161.
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