Garden Lakes teams win popsicle bridge challenge

♦ The competition was held at Armuchee Elementary.

The Floyd County Schools Instructional Technology Department held the Fourth Annual Popsicle Stick Bridge Challenge on Thursday morning at Armuchee Elementary School. FCS math specialist Jennifer White emceed the event.

As reigning champions of the third annual event, Armuchee played host to 11 teams of aspiring engineers currently in third, fourth, and fifth grades who qualified for the district challenge after winning at the school level. The six elementary schools that participated were Alto Park Elementary, Armuchee, Cave Spring Elementary, Garden Lakes Elementary, Model Elementary and Pepperell Elementary.

“This was our fourth year at GLES to participate in the popsicle Bridge Challenge. It provided our students an opportunity to think creatively, problem solve and work as a team. This challenge provoked excitement throughout our school and was a rewarding experience,” Garden Lakes Principal Mary Alcorn said.

A popsicle stick bridge challenge starts with students designing and building a bridge out of 400 popsicle sticks and basic white school glue that can span a 20-inch gap with a roadway the width of a popsicle stick.

The design strength is then put to the test when it is placed with the ends on two tabletops 20 inches apart with a five-gallon bucket chained in the middle of the bridge to add weight. The bridge that holds the most weight wins the challenge.

As the sole participants, GLES students Will Thomas, Xander Taylor, Victor Vicente, and Rylen Byrd won the third-grade competition. GLES fourth-graders Kevin Weaver, Ansley Reece, Riley Hester, Austin Reece, and Katelynn Shaffer exceeded their competition by 40 and 60 lbs with a total weight of 95 pounds.

GLES fifth-graders Hilda Vicente, Justice Wetherington, and Cheyenne Osburn were crowned 2020 Grand Champions with a bridge holding 100 pounds, withstanding more weight than the other six teams in their grade level by an average of 50 pounds.

Pepperell Elementary’s team Aidan Watson, Aaron Bowers, Avary Head, and Jalynn Black won the student choice award for Best Looking Bridge.

Former Model Elementary student Silas Bryson remains the current record holder for a popsicle stick bridge holding a whopping 160 pounds.

The Fifth Annual Popsicle Stick Bridge Challenge will take place next year at Garden Lakes Elementary School.

Floyd County Schools Winning teams from Garden Lakes Elementary hold their winning popsicle bridges Thursday at Armuchee Elementary.

Floyd County Schools Winners of the “Best Looking Bridge” portion of the popsicle stick bridge competition pose with their winning popsicle bridges at Armuchee Elementary on Thursday.