Odyssey of the Mind

Lincoln is on a team this year with other second and third graders. Greta is a student "coach" because there wasn't enough interest to form a fifth grade team. They've chosen to build a balsa wood structure and then will be judged on how much weight it can support. The structure must be at least 8" tall and weigh no more than 15 grams (about the heft of three nickels). This week they tested various glues to see which might work best to hold the sticks together. Cyanoacrylate, more commonly known as super glue, was the clear winner. Now they just need to wear hazmat suits while they play with their balsa wood. They have eight weeks after the holidays to perfect a structure and then the regional competition is in March.