Congratulation to The Deru Family, Compass Montessori, Jefferson County Schools, winner of the second family challenge! Check out their solution here: https://youtu.be/TqpXAEOflQo

Spiders and Witches, Oh My!

Task:  Your task is to collect items from the Caldron, then use those items to assemble a spider. Remember: all items can be altered to fit whatever you have in your house. Example: No Chenille Stems? (aka Pipe Cleaners) substitute paperclips.

Your Challenge: In the center of a table is a large square; this square contains the mysterious Cauldron of Yorganon. Inside the Cauldron are the many ingredients needed to create a powerful spider, but unfortunately the witch has lost her recipe.  It is up to your team to assist the witch in recreating the correct recipe to create the spider.

Part I:  15 minutes 

Your team is to build a device to retrieve the items from the Cauldron (a large kitchen mixing bowl).  Only one device can be used, but it may be altered during this portion of the challenge.  Around the Cauldron you will see a square, approximately 6 inches from the edge of the Cauldron. You may not cross the vertical plane of the square. If you cross it while the device is holding an item, the item must be returned to the Cauldron. If an item falls into the square around the Cauldron the team may retrieve it with the device only.

Device Materials: These materials are to build your device

• 1 Set of Tongs
• 1 Cardboard Tube
• 1 Spatula
• 5 Rubber Bands
• 1 Coat Hanger
• 5 Chenille Stems
• 3 Paper Plates

Part 2:  15 minutes

Your team must now assemble your spider without using your hands.  For the purpose of this challenge, a spider consists of a body, eight legs (must be at least 4” long) and two eyes.

Spider Materials: (Materials in the Cauldron)

• 2 Styrofoam Cups
• 6 Straws
• 4 Cotton Balls
• 1 Sheet Aluminum Foil
• 1 Small Bag
• 2 Ping Pong Balls
• 5 Toothpicks
• 1 Strip of Mailing Labels
• 1 Scissors (May not be used as part of the spider)

Points: 100 Points Possible

• Up to 20 points for teamwork
• Up to 10 points for the creative design of your device in Part 1
• Up to 20 points for the creative use of materials in spider
• Up to 10 points if you have a spider at the end of Part 2
• Up to 20 points if you use all of the materials gathered from the Cauldron
• Up to 10 points if your spider has eyes
• Up to 10 points if your spider has 8 legs

Do Ahead of time:

Set-Up:

• One large kitchen bowl
• Tape

Place the bowl on a table. Tape a square area 6 inches from the edge of the bowl. (Hint: Turn the bowl upside down before measuring the square.  Measure from the rim of the bowl.)

Collect the Following Materials: Remember: all items can be altered to fit whatever you have in your house. Example: No Chenille Stems? (aka Pipe Cleaners) substitute paperclips.

• 1 Set of Tongs
• 1 Cardboard Tube
• 1 Spatula
• 5 Rubber Bands
• 1 Coat Hanger
• 5 Chenille Stems
• 3 Paper Plates
• 2 Styrofoam Cups
• 6 Straws
• 4 Cotton Balls
• 1 Sheet Aluminum Foil
• 1 Small Bag
• 2 Ping Pong Balls
• 5 Toothpicks
• 1 Strip of Mailing Labels
• 1 Scissors