Elementary Applications to Shipbuilding Engineering
Boat Design Competition

Imagine 4th and 5th graders teaming to solve a shipbuilding (real world) challenge following the same rules as the biggest shipyard in the country. Northup Grumman Shipbuilding devised the requirements and shipbuilding competition design criteria, and the National Defense Education Program provided all the materials to allow thousands of Virginia’s elementary students to build and test their boats on the water.

Local school competitions are underway and the top three teams from each, the 4th and 5th grade, will compete at the state finals in February.

• Here’s what it promotes:
• Virginia Standards of Learning mastery
• National & Virginia's STEM goals
• Critical and creative thinking
• Problem solving & Hands-on Learning
• Decision making
• Cooperative learning skills
• Differentiated instruction
• Motivated and self-confident learners
• Real life application based upon experience.
• School wide interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
• Virginia’s maritime industry knowledge.
• Motivating educational competition for children.
• Supports Virginia and USA STEM goals.

The following documents provide details about an upcoming teacher workshop scheduled for January 7, 2011.

Shipbuilding Design and Engineering Workshop

Agenda and Contest Information

Boat Competition Project Lesson Plan

SeaFoil Boat Design: A Practitioner's Approach