Building a toy dog with eyes that blink
     Capturing wind energy to run machines
          Constructing a dragster and making it roll furthest

The Oak Park Education Foundation's newest program, Geared Up, brings engineering, physical science, math and technology challenges to elementary school students. Geared Up uses Lego motorized Mechanisms sets to teach exciting hands-on lessons, with students testing their own ideas and working in teams of two.

For example, one project has students experiment to determine which will roll further down a hill, a heavier cart or a lighter one. They also test bigger or smaller wheels to see if these affect the speed of the cart. Students make predictions, build carts and a ramp, measure weights and distances. They learn first-hand about friction, mass, moving energy and efficiency.

Geared Up is in all District 97 3rd grade classrooms, and is part of our summer BASE Camp for students going into 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades.

Geared Up:

• Excites students and teachers about engineering and technology
• Prepares a wide variety of students for Vex Robotics in the middle schools
• Connects the community to the classroom by bringing in volunteers, including engineers, technology experts and parents
• Enhances the science and math curricula in elementary school
• Promotes hands-on problem solving and teamwork skills

Geared Up receives funding from the the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation, the Rotary Club of Oak Park-River Forest, as well as generous support from individuals.

For more information about Geared Up, please contact Gretchen Junker.