Junior Engineering

Competition Guidelines for all Divisions

• These guidelines apply to all divisions. Additional competition guidelines will accompany the build for each division.
• Each club may enter one team of three to five students.
• The invention may have parts that suspend beyond the board but cannot be braced/tethered/supported by anything (i.e. wall or floor) other than the board. The board must be flat on the floor.
• The team must use ONLY items from the specified list. Materials must fit into a closed 18-gallon plastic storage container with a lid.
• No prewritten or typed instructions/directions may be used during the competition.
• All construction must be done on-site. All pieces used in the build including the board must be free of any writing, marking, colors/pre-painted items, etc.
• Stickers may be used for decoration only. They may not be used for construction purposes, color coding etc.
• No pieces can be preassembled and must be separate in the container.
• An onsite challenge will be assigned during the competition.
• Electricity/outlet and internet will not be provided.
• Liquids, sand, glitter, or other substances that would leave a mess may not be used in any form of the entry.
• SAFETY - Participants using a battery powered glue gun MUST use silicone finger protectors or wear gloves when using the glue gun.
• SAFETY - Participants must always wear closed toed shoes.
• SAFETY - NO ladders or stepstools feet must remain on the floor.

Junior Competition Guidelines

Building a Ferris Wheel from popsicle sticks encourages students to develop a variety of STEM, creative, and teamwork skills. It challenges them to think like engineers while applying problem-solving and design principles. Students will work together to create a Ferris Wheel that rotates independently and contains either passenger cars or passengers.

Suggested Design Requirements for the Ferris Wheel:

• Stands independently
• Rotates smoothly by hand with one touch or spin
• Includes at least 6–8 passenger cars or passengers.
• Has a stable base that prevents tipping.
• Is constructed primarily from popsicle sticks.
• Each club may enter one team of three to five students.
• Teams will be given forty-five (45) minutes to construct and ninety (90) seconds to demonstrate and explain the project.
• The invention must be constructed on a piece of foam board no larger than 30 inches by 40 inches. This piece of foam board will be separate from the materials container.
• The invention may have parts that suspend beyond the board but cannot be braced/tethered/supported by anything (i.e. wall or floor) other than the board.
• The team must use only items from the required specified list and materials must fit into a closed 18-gallon plastic storage container with a lid.
• No prewritten or typed instructions/directions may be used during the competition.
• All construction must be done on-site. All pieces used in the build including the board must be free of any writing, marking, colors/pre-painted items, etc.
• Stickers may be used for decoration only. They may not be used for construction purposes, color coding etc.
• No pieces can be preassembled and must be separate in the container.
• Electricity/outlet and internet will not be provided.
• Liquids, sand, glitter, or other substances that would leave a mess may not be used in any form of the challenge.
• SAFETY - Participants using a battery powered glue gun MUST use silicone finger protectors or wear gloves when using the glue gun.
• SAFETY - Participants must always wear closed toed shoes.
• SAFETY - NO ladders or stepstools feet must remain on the floor. Approved Materials List

Approved Materials List

The team must use ONLY the items from the specified list of materials below. Materials must fit into a closed 18-gallon container with lid. Teams will be responsible for all materials and the foam board needed for the build.