Entries will be screened to ensure they meet the entry criteria. Students, accompanied by their teacher, will be invited to present their aircraft and launching device to the judges and give a presentation of up to ten minutes on their background research, STEM learning about aircraft design and factors affecting flight, materials selection, design experimentation, prototyping and construction process. The presentation can take any form (PowerPoint® slides, poster, video, a talk or combination) and should aim to build the students’ confidence, communication and presentation skills. The judges will ask questions about the aircraft, launching device and the students’ STEM learning. All members of a team should take part in the presentation.

The aircraft and launching device will be checked to ensure that (i) they only use materials from the Materials List (ii) the aircraft does not exceed the maximum weight limit (iii) the launching device does not exceed the maximum dimensions. The launching device will be positioned behind the launch line and the aircraft launched three times. The distance covered will be measured in centimetres by tape measure, in a straight line from the ’launch line’ to the nearest point of the aircraft. The longest distance will be used for allocation of marks.

Up to 30 marks for the distance covered by the aircraft

Up to 20 marks for STEM learning into aircraft design and factors affecting flight including forces, gravity and resistance

Up to 20 marks for design and construction including material experimentation, prototyping, design modifications and overcoming problems and challenges

Up to 15 marks for visual appearance/aesthetics of the aircraft

Up to 15 marks for the presentation

Total marks available = 100

The students’ year group will be taken into account when awarding marks.

Judges will select 4-6 finalists who will be invited to attend the 3M Young Innovators Challenge presentation evening at Charnwood Campus on 19 June 2020.

£750 of science equipment for school use plus a £50 gift voucher for the winning individual or team member. All finalists and their schools will receive a framed certificate.

All entrants will receive a certificate of entry and personalised feedback from the judges.

Links to Science Curriculum (England)

Year 3

Forces and magnets

compare how things move on different surfaces

Year 5

Forces

explain that unsupported objects fall towards the Earth because of the force of gravity acting between the Earth and the falling object

identify the effects of air resistance, water resistance and friction, that act between moving surfaces

recognise that some mechanisms, including levers, pulleys and gears, allow a smaller force to have a greater effect

Links to Design and Technology Curriculum (England)

Key stage 2

When designing and making, pupils should be taught to:

Design

generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design

Make

select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing], accurately

select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities

Technical knowledge

apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures

Links to Mathematics Curriculum (England)

Measures of distance, mass and angle, scale drawing, 2D and 3D shapes