Across Hertfordshire this summer term, 4500 children from 150 Year 5 and 6 classes in 97 schools have been building Mars Rover models from the construction system K’Nex.
“Children have to be able to imagine in three dimensions,’ explains Lucy Roberts, Chirst Church School class teacher, “Points are awarded on the strength of the plan and meeting the demands of the project; the build and the complexity and integrity of the finished model; and the presentation the children make to the visiting technician.”
Roger Collins from Setpoint Hertfordshire explained that from the 97 winners put forward from each class, 9 finalists were selected which included two entries from Christ Church School. Last year, as Year 5 pupils, Jamie Broadis and James Fleming came third in the county and this year in Year 6, the duo were partners again and created the winning model. Jamie says the best thing about winning was that the VIP judge, Professor Jerry Stone, President of the Mars Society UK, picked their model as the winning entry.
Left: K’Nex Champions Jamie Broadis and James Fleming with their Mars Rover
Main photo: K’Nex finalists James Elliot and Bobby G