School winner Carroll Elementary sixth graders designed and built model roller coasters as a math project. The students were divided into teams of four. There was a judging at school, and this coaster, called the Superman, won first place out of 22 entries. The designers are pictured above, l-r - Cameron Conn, Alivia Seward, Jourdan Martin, and Branton Leazenby. Photo provided Carroll Elementary sixth graders know first-hand that it takes math skills to build a roller coaster.

Students of math teacher Jana Conn divided into groups of four to build their own roller coaster models. There was a judging at school, and then the top six teams were selected to go to Indiana Beach on May 16 for the roller coaster contest there.

Twenty-two teams competed at school. The winning coaster was the "Superman," designed and built by Cameron Conn, Alivia Seward, Jourdan Martin, and Branton Leazenby.

The contest at Indiana Beach was held during Academic Days. Carroll Elementary teams competed with each other and with sixth, seventh, and eighth graders from other schools. Out of the 18 teams competing that day, Carroll teams won first and second place. Their prizes were free passes to Indiana Beach.

Indiana Beach winner This roller coaster from Carroll Elementary won first place out of 18 entries in the Roller Coaster Model Contest at Indiana Beach on May 16. Three of the four designers are pictured above: Front (l-r) - Seth Eldridge and Zach Turnpaugh. Back - Bailey Worl. Kassandra Gillam was the fourth member of the team. Photo provided The winning coaster had a circus theme and was built by Kassandra Gillam, Bailey Worl, Seth Eldridge, and Zach Turnpaugh. The Superman coaster came in second.

The coasters are judged on three criteria: safety, thrill, and visual. Bonus points are awarded for extra creativity and data sheets about the coaster. A golf ball is used as the coaster car, and it has to travel without extra propulsion. The model height can't exceed 36 inches, and the base perimeter is not to exceed 144 inches.

Mrs. Conn said her students build their coasters in class, and it takes about eight days to complete. The coasters are a math project, and students receive grades for their work.

"The students are asked to keep a journal of data and design ideas," she said. "The journal includes a calculated speed and how it was calculated; degree of the angles for the turns; measurements of height and perimeter; initial design ideas; listing of what worked and what did not work; materials tested and used, etc."

Mrs. Conn said this was the sixth year for the roller coaster math project at Carroll. She said it used to be for just the advanced math classes, but this year, thanks to a mini grant from the Carroll Education Foundation and help from the Carroll PTO, all sixth graders could participate.

Judges for the school contest were community members Jay Bush, Joanne Lytton, and Shelly Wiles.