Week 1 - Mini boat challenge

As the teams assembled in the main hall, Donna introduced the launch activity of building a propellor powered boat. Each team would then be able to test their boat in a shallow pool. With the help of the web cam projected onto a big screen the teams were able to see the finer details of each stage.

With a basic starter kit, each team were talked through step by step to convert the parts into a working model.

As the chicken trays turned into boats, everybody tested their crafts for buoyancy, before making any adjustments necessary to get them to float.

After a short tea break, the teams moved out to the shallow pool to test their crafts on the "open water".

It was plain to see, even with giving every team the same pieces to start with, that each boat turned out differently showing their own individual touches.

Next week the teams will turn their attentions to the main recycled boat and an optional floating dock or desert island.

...around the room the children as always found their own way to enjoy themselves!!

Week 2 - The building begins

Simon went through some tips to help with buoyancy using recycled materials.

The teams this week turned their attentions to starting building their boats which in six weeks time will endeavour to cross the waters at Streatley Primary school`s outdoor pool.

As the shop opened it`s doors, team members went to purchase items to go with their recycled items brought in from home.

Looking at the models built by the session leaders, everybody was keen to stamp their mark on their individual creations.

With the half term break pending, teams were left to ponder the battle with the possible weather elements of the wind and the rain on finals day. The second "Get Set Go" task was also set with the teams challenged to design and create their own treasure map. Please enjoy your half term break and we all look forward to seeing those imaginative maps on our return on June 12th.

Week 3 - The work rate increases....

After the half term break, it was back to business as the teams got down to work. There was a talk to all the adults about the safety of the cutting knives, health and safety regulations feel we need guidance!

While Donna spoke to the adults, Simon took the children through to the canteen to vote on next term`s challenge. All will be revealed next week......

The room was full of activity, with children captivated with their parents ideas.

The big question is will it float? Many teams had success when buoyancy testing their vessels, now the task moved on to moving them in a reasonable straight line!

If concerns arose, Donna and Simon were on hand to guide individuals through any difficulties, restoring their confidence and allowing them to enjoy the fun element of the challenge.

Alongside the boat construction, families started their floating dwellings or islands. This is an optional activity but will add style and colour to the pool on final`s day.

The families worked hard together in the search for success...

But as the session came to a close, the boats started to take shape in various shapes and sizes.

But there`s always somebody totally different.....ay Dave!

Week 4 - Boat testing.....

Simon began the session by showcasing the website pages. This included the information about Steatley primary school, the venue for the final and the `Meet the teams` page. This page will help everybody choose the `People`s Award`, by putting names to faces around the room when teams vote on week 7.

All the teams got down to work,discussing assembling their crafts and the technical points to see how fast and straight they can make them go.

After bouyancy testing in perspex troughs, it was now time to test on the shallow pool.

Good progress was made by the competing teams, with individual flair coming through.

The result of last week`s vote for next term`s challenge was `TANKS`

.

As the session came to a close, further tweaking was made as all the families continued their light hearted building.

But keeping up the theme of strange designs, is this a floating pillow, bed pan or nappy?

Week 5 The last week before Streatley test day...

As Simon welcomed the teams to week 5, he had a couple of certificates to give out. Chloe and Ciaran Martin were both awarded the bronze certificates for accumulating 30 hours in their children university books while competing in the Speedy Snails team.

The younger members were offered the chance to make their teams pirate/viking themed figure which would steer the crafts down the Streatley pool.

Streatley Primary School has full indoor and outdoor creche facilities, which will be available to the families to enable them to enjoy the test, and final`s day as normal.

The teams gathered around the shallow test pool, which teams were successful? and who needed more time to adjust their boats?

The interest grew as more teams took to the water.

Other team members went back to the shop to raid it in the quest to gain more speed or a straighter line, sifting through the card and plastic items.

The children showed off their creations, made with air clay, of various sizes and colours.

After the tea break, the families got engrossed in their boat building as they edged towards test week.

The optional floating islands/ dwellings were also taking shape adding colour to the room.

Some even tried them out on the pool!

But as you looked around the room, there`s always somebody who challenges the wording of the tasks!!

Week 6 - Test day at Streatley.

The day had come..... Streatley Primary school with it`s perfect raised pool welcolmed the Whacky Scrap Races teams with open arms as they raced their boats for the first time over the distance required for the task. They lined up as nervous as the armada of boats that gathered at Dunkirk all those years ago.

In pairs, the teams were called forward to register their times for crossing the width of the pool. Who will be the first to cross the distance the quickest?

The boats made their way across the water, setting the pace for a fun filled session.

The varied designs showed individual flair which added colour to the sunny day, and it was "Dragon Raiders" which set the early pace.

It was to the credit of the staff and volunteers, that the shop, refreshments and working area were recreated at Streatley.

There were many adjustments made during the break with teams trying to improve on their initial times.

After letting in water on the first test run, the Speedy Snails nappy gained more weight and caused a total rethink using the knowledge of the first build to improve their chances of safely crossing the pool.

The teams gathered around the pool to see if the improvements they had made worked?

But for some, the free recovery service was much appreciated!

Don`t forget next week it is time to nominate your choice for the "People`s Award". If you need to put a name to a face you want to vote for, please visit the "Meet The Teams" page which may help you choose.

If you wish to comment on the challenge and how it has worked for you and your team, please email your thoughts to whacky@fsmail.net.

The test results are as follows:

       Dragon Raiders....................4.34 secs
       Team Warren.......................4.88 secs
       Team Tornado......................4.94 secs
       Cat Scrap.........................6.06 secs
       Running Rockets...................6.29 secs
       Clever Cheetahs...................7.63 secs
       Fabulous Baker Boys...............9.19 secs
       Yet Another Team Gibbins.........10.52 secs
       Speedy Snails....................11.43 secs
       Mighty Mutant Moose People.......13.84 secs
       Streatley Pirates................28.65 secs

Bracknell Boat Builders and Team Gibbins were unable to record a time for a completed width of the pool, (but were well supported by the other teams for their attempts).

To view teams comments about the current challenge click on Chat .

Week 7 - Preparations for finals day.

After the excitement of test day last week at Streatley, it was back to Denefield to make any last minute adjustments.

As you looked around the room you could see the finishing touches being made to complete the boats and optional floating islands.

The younger team members used the air clay to create the compulsory pirate or viking figure which will steer the boats across the water next week.

Then it was out to the shallow pool to check on those tweaks.

The room was full of activity and there were one to one discussions to iron out any concerns the families had.

As the session closed, the finished boats graced the table tops ready to be packed up for the journey to Streatley next week.

The colourful floating islands came together nicely, but who decided to build an igloo in temperatures of 30 degrees!!

Week 8 Final`s day...

As the skies cleared, the teams gathered around the pool at Streatley Primary School fixing their completed islands around the sides.

When called forward the boats were lowered into the water as battle commenced.

The boats graced the water adding colour and individual style.

The optional floating islands were a credit to all the hard work everybody had put into them and certainly were the best collection of themed activities supporting the tasked models.

It certainly would be a difficult job to judge these creations for the judging panel led by Councillor Jean Gardner of Tilehurst Parish Council,with Rick Jones of Purley Parish Council and Sgt. Barry Walker of Thames Valley Police. They huddled together to finalise their decisions.

While they discussed the results of the first runs and themed awards, the teams enjoyed light refreshments including a wonderful colourful cake to celebrate the end of another successful challenge.

With Simon at the helm, the teams took their second runs to try to improve on their times.

The top four teams then raced along the length of the pool to see who could keep straight over a longer distance.

The teams then gathered around the gazebos to hear the results and support the other teams as the session came to a close.

The People`s award was won by Dragon Raiders

The Team work award went to Team Tornado

The Use of recycling award was won by Streatley Pirates

The optional floating landscape based on children`s ideas and input was won by Mighty Mutant Moose People.

The Best Boat Design went to Clever Cheetahs, with Team Gibbins highly commended.

The team to cross the pool in the quickest time was Dragon Raiders, at the sixth attempt Rob, Alex and Rodney finally landed the trophy. A very popular winner and well deserved. The engraved cup will take residence at Park Lane School in Tilehurst until battle recommences in October when the year`s theme changes to "Power" and the first task is tank building.

The full list of finishers are as follows:

1st...Dragon Raiders

2nd...Team Warren

3rd...Speedy Snails

4th...Team Tornado

5th...Running Rockets

6th...Fabulous Baker Boys

7th...Bracknell Boat Builders

8th...Not Another Team Gibbins

9th...Cat Scrap

10th...Cast Off Bannings

11th...Clever Cheetahs

12th...Streatley Piarates

13th...Team Gibbins

14th...Mighty Mutant Moose People

So it was time to bid farewell to our hosts "Streatley Primary School", a big thank you to them for letting us race in their pool and enjoy their facilities.

Thank you all for your assistance in contributing to the web pages, with out your support the website would not grow to the success it is now.

More photographs will be added to the photo gallery over the next week.

The address for Streatley Primary School is : The Coombe, Streatley, RG8 PQL

Directions/ map for the outdoor pool, click on Streatley Primary School

Get Set Go

If you missed the "Get Set Go" activity sheets, please see below:

GetSetGo1

GetSetGo2

For a copy of the information booklet, please click on Booklet

Useful websites to visit for the boat challenge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buoyancy

http://www.mtmbc.co.uk/

http://www.bealepark.co.uk/events_item.php?id=127